TEHRAN – Iran has strongly rejected the recent statement issued by the Arab League regarding the Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb islands in the Persian Gulf.

Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, issued a statement on Friday and criticized the Arab League's position as "baseless" and "unacceptable," reaffirming Iran's claim of sovereignty over the three islands.

The dispute resurfaced following the conclusion of the 33rd Arab League summit held in Manama, Bahrain, where the final statement echoed the United Arab Emirates' ongoing claim to the islands. 

Kanaani, responding to this, emphasized that Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb have historically belonged to Iran.

“It has been stated and emphasized many times that the three Iranian islands of Abu Musa as well as Greater and Lesser Tunbs are an integral and eternal part of the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and such baseless claims in the statement in question are rejected,” he noted.

Backing Iran's claim with historical, legal, and geographical evidence, Kanaani emphasized the islands' longstanding status as Iranian territory. Despite a period of British control starting in 1921, Iran's sovereignty over the islands was reaffirmed on November 30, 1971, shortly before the UAE's formation.

Iran has repeatedly stated that it will not hesitate a bit to preserve its territorial integrity.

Additionally, the Arab League's statement addressed the escalating Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate end to hostilities, Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian territories, the lifting of the Gaza siege, and unhindered access for humanitarian aid.

In response, Kanaani appreciated the Arab League's support for the Palestinian cause and condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza. He underscored the urgent need for unity among Muslim nations to effectively address and counter Israeli aggression.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza persists, as casualties continues to mount amid the ongoing violence. Recent reports indicate that Israeli actions have resulted in the deaths of 35,303 Palestinians, including a significant number of women and children, emphasizing the urgent need for a lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the ongoing conflict has left 79,261 individuals wounded.

Additionally, approximately 7,000 individuals remain unaccounted for and are presumed to have perished under the debris of their homes across the Gaza Strip.

A widely criticized Israeli ground operation is currently ongoing in the southern city of Rafah in Gaza. Over a million displaced Palestinians sought refuge in this area after being displaced from their homes in other heavily bombarded parts of Gaza since October. 

The UN estimates that approximately 600,000 individuals have fled the region since Israel initiated its assault earlier this month.