Arab Nations Unite Against Iran's Control of Persian Gulf Islands

By Faramarz Davar

Iranian officials expressed hope for improved relations following an informal meeting between Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, and the foreign ministers of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member states hosted by Qatar.

However, a joint statement issued by the Council and the European Union about the three Iranian islands has cast a shadow over these optimistic sentiments. 

The sovereignty of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, islands that have long been a point of contention between Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is increasingly becoming a critical issue for Iran's territorial integrity.

In the latest development, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (consisting of Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain) and the 27 European Union member states issued a joint statement with one paragraph addressing the Iranian islands.

The joint statement, which reviewed the Islamic Republic's policies, including its nuclear program, contained unprecedentedly harsh language against Iran's territorial integrity. This marked a departure from the European Union's previous, more cautious and conservative approach to the issue.

"We emphasize the importance of adherence to international law, including the UN Charter, based on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, noninterference in internal affairs, and refraining from the use of force or threats," the statement reads.

"In this respect, we call on Iran to end its occupation of the three islands of the United Arab Emirates, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, which constitutes a violation of the sovereignty of the UAE and the principles of the Charter of the UN."

In an unprecedented move, the joint statement by 43 governments described Iran's control of the three UAE islands as "occupation." This came just weeks after Masoud Pezeshkian visited Qatar and the meeting between Iran’s foreign minister and the foreign ministers of the six Persian Gulf countries. Following this, Araghchi also visited Saudi Arabia and Oman, highlighting the fragile relations between the two sides and how ineffective Iran has been in preventing political actions against its territorial integrity.

While the European Union has previously supported the UAE’s claims in its dispute with Iran over the islands, this is the first time the three islands were explicitly described as belonging to the UAE. The joint statement labeled the current situation a "violation of UAE sovereignty and the UN Charter."

Among the 33 governments supporting the UAE against Iran’s territorial integrity, at least three - Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait - are considered close allies of Iran. This is particularly noteworthy given the recent positive rhetoric from Saudi Arabia and the UAE regarding improved relations with the Islamic Republic.

The UAE's recent political moves regarding the three islands represent the most serious threat to Iran's territorial integrity since Iraq's invasion, which included claims over Khuzestan and the Arvand Rud River.

This issue escalated during the Islamic Republic’s weakest period and has taken on significant international dimensions.

Previously, the threats mainly revolved around the island of Abu Musa, but now the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, which had seen relatively less contention between Iran and the UAE, are being added to the Abu Musa dispute.

Based on a previous agreement between Iran and Britain, which represented Sharjah before the formation of the UAE, Abu Musa was to be jointly administered by Iran and Sharjah. Meanwhile, Iran was to maintain exclusive sovereignty over Greater and Lesser Tunbs.

For decades, the UAE has kept the dispute before the UN Security Council, arguing that it threatens global peace and security. In recent months, it has successfully garnered support from both China and Russia for its claims against Iran's territorial integrity.

Russia has twice issued joint statements with the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, urging the resolution of disputes over the three islands. Given the recent joint statement by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union, which unprecedentedly referred to Iran's actions as a "violation of UAE sovereignty," instead of simply recommending a "peaceful resolution," it is not unreasonable to expect that Russia and China may soon adopt similar language.

Earlier, the UAE persuaded the United States to back its position in the islands' dispute with Iran. Britain also joined a similar statement with the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council during its time in the European Union. As a result, the UAE has gained the support of all five permanent members of the UN Security Council in its claims against Iran’s territorial integrity.

If the matter were to be raised again in the Security Council, the situation would be dire for the Islamic Republic.

The ongoing dispute over the Persian Gulf islands, particularly Abu Musa, has caused the UAE to assert its claims against Iran through a series of legal arguments.

These arguments center on Iran’s alleged violations of the 1971 memorandum of understanding with Britain (which predates the UAE's formation), the purported coercion invalidating the memorandum, and the UAE’s continuous objections preventing Iran from gaining sovereignty through “acquisitive prescription.”

The UAE’s position is further strengthened by principles of international law, such as the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and consistent international backing for its claims, which have been formally presented to the UN Security Council.

In response to the UAE’s international lobbying efforts, the Islamic Republic, grappling with a domestic legitimacy crisis and numerous internal and foreign challenges, has largely responded with rejection. While necessary, this approach alone is insufficient.

The UAE's sustained efforts over the past three decades have demonstrated a growing seriousness in addressing the issue, elevating it to broader international dimensions.

Notably, Iran’s government has refrained from mentioning its sovereignty over the three islands in joint statements with other countries at the presidential or foreign ministry level.