TEHRAN – The chairman of Iran's Strategic Council of Foreign Relations has urged the United Arab Emirates to reconsider its current stance of antagonism towards Iran. 

He suggested that the UAE engage in dialogue rooted in historical facts and supporting documentation, in order to foster a more constructive relationship.

Kamal Kharrazi, who is also an advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, made the remarks in response to Abu Dhabi’s repeated sovereignty claims over three Persian Gulf Islands – the Bu Musa, the Greater Tunb, and the Lesser Tunb – which official and historical records show belonged to Iran centuries before the UAE was formed. UAE’s latest statement challenging Iran’s ownership of the Islands came during the end of a recent summit between the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union. 

Kharrazi said UAE officials must take into account its economic alignment with Iran and abandon the untenable claims over the Persian Gulf islands. He urged the Arab state to engage in dialogue aimed at resolving disputes and fostering peace and stability in the region, grounded in historical evidence and existing documentation.

The Leader’s advisor on foreign affairs also addressed Europe’s recent backing of Abu Dhabi’s claims. “The European Union's adversarial stance towards the three islands lacks any legal foundation and serves primarily as a political maneuver to secure aid and financial support from nations in the Persian Gulf, especially the United Arab Emirates, to offset their substantial expenses related to the Ukraine conflict.” 

The Iranian official emphasized that legal experts are well aware that when British colonial rule ended in the region in 1971, which included the three islands, the newly formed states such as the UAE and Bahrain rightfully transferred ownership of the islands to Iran, as all historical records affirm their Iranian heritage.

“Consequently, the documentation and evidence supporting Iran's claim to the three islands are robust and unequivocal. Statements made with the intent of garnering financial assistance do not weaken Iran's resolute position on its ownership of these islands or the commitment of its armed forces to uphold its territorial sovereignty,” Kharrazi concluded.

The joint GCC-EU statement issued on Thursday called Iran an “occupying force” in the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Bu Musa.