TEHRAN – Tehran has categorically rejected a statement by the Arab League repeating the UAE ownership claims over the three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf.

The statement over the three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa is a clear interference in Iran’s internal affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said in a statement.
The three islands have been indisputable part of the Iranian territory throughout the history, Mehmanparast said, stressing that making such baseless statements will never have any impact on Iran’s sovereignty over the islands.
Mehmanparast said direct talks between Iran and the UAE is the best way to clear up misunderstanding over Abu Musa Island and emphasized that “interference of a third party will not help clear up the misunderstanding”.
The three Persian Gulf islands were historically owned by Iran but the exercise of colonialism by Britain led to the islands temporarily falling under British control in the 1800s.
The islands were then officially returned to Iran on November 30th 1971 through a legal process before the state of the United Arab Emirates was created and the Al Nahyan family assumed leadership