Iranian Islands Will Remain Iranian for Ever-NEWS & VIEWS

December 10, 1998 - 0:0
TEHRAN Despite Iran's good-will toward the United Arab Emirates, once again this tiny neighbor of us tried to put the issue of Iranian island of Abu Musa on the agenda of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council. As usual the Persian gulf cooperation council (PGCC) called on Iran to halt its occupation of the islands of Abu Mussa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, the leaders said at the end of a three-day summit, according to an AFP report.

We are sure our brothers in the UAE are quite well aware of the fact Iran was the only country in the region which was not brought under the British colonial rule. Where as they remained a protectorate of the British at least since 1835. When the Priat Coast and later on the Trucial Coast was a protectorate of the British, Iran was an independent country.

Only the three Iranian islands were occupied by the British and were returned to Iran before the British leave the Persian Gulf in 1971. Hence using the word occupation for Iran, which is the owner of the islands and will remain their owner for so long as blood runs in the vessels of Iranian nation, brings nothing but contempt for those who use such words.

We have said time and again that we are ready to remove misunderstandings with the UAE over the Iranian island of Abu Musa. But it must be clear that any body who tries to cast a covetous eye an any inch of Iranian territory should pass through an ocean of blood. We are also sure that our brothers in other Arab countries of the Persian Gulf subscribe the final declaration out of obligation not conviction.

The prevailing atmosphere between Iran and Arab countries demand the UAE and other members of PGCC refrain from such inflammatory statement which only makes the Zionist regime happy. The Persian Gulf states said they were convinced of the need to establish good relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.