TEHRAN – Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said on Saturday that the Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs are “inseparable part” of the “holy land of Iran” and belong to this country “everlastingly”.

The remarks by the chief diplomat came one day after Saudi Arabia and China issued a joint statement in which they suggested that Iran and the United Arab Emirates hold talks on the ownership of the three islands.

“On the necessity of respect for Iran’s territorial integrity” the Islamic republic shows no leniency “with any side,” Amir Abdollahian tweeted.

Prior to the tweet by the foreign minister, Mohammad Jamshidi, who is in charge of the presidential political office, also said if it had not been for Iran’s campaign against Daesh and al-Qaeda, terrorism would have spread to the West and the East.