TEHRAN- The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry has reaffirmed that the three southern islands of Iran are integral parts of the nation and will remain so indefinitely.

On Tuesday, Nasser Kanaani criticized the persistent and unproductive assertions made by members of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) in their concluding statement from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Iran categorically rejects the section of the statement that pertains to the Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf, labeling it as an unconstructive assertion, as emphasized by the spokesperson. 

He condemned any comments regarding Iran's development activities in its territories, the visits of Iranian officials to the southern islands, and the conduct of military exercises near its borders, asserting that Iran views these claims as interference in its internal matters. 

Additionally, the spokesperson addressed Kuwait's assertion regarding the Arash joint gas field, emphasizing that this unilateral claim lacks legal significance and does not substantiate Kuwait's rights to the field. 

He underscored this by stating, “The only viable path to resolving the issue of the Arash field is through negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting agreement that reflects mutual interests.”

Additionally, he reaffirmed the Iranian government's ongoing commitment to fostering neighborly relations. 

Kanaani emphasized that Iran views cooperation and engagement with its neighbors as essential for resolving regional issues, expressing Tehran's openness to constructive initiatives aimed at enhancing both multilateral and bilateral relationships. 

He also remarked that the position taken by the PGCC is counterproductive to regional cooperation and interaction.

On September 9, the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council issued a statement in an informal action asserting that the three islands—Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Bumusa—are part of the UAE, thereby excluding Iran from the discussions regarding the Arash gas field. 

The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) is a regional alliance focused on political and economic collaboration, founded in 1981. The council comprises six member countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.

Iran condemns Israeli massacre of Palestinians in al-Mawasi

In another statement, Kanaani strongly condemned a recent Israeli airstrike on a tented encampment in southern Gaza, near Khan Yunis, which resulted in the deaths of over 45 Palestinians and left dozens more injured. 

The strike, which targeted displaced civilians sheltering in the al-Mawasi camp, has been described as one of the deadliest attacks in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza.

The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry criticized the Israeli government, accusing it of showing complete disregard for international law and moral principles. 

"With its relentless and brutal assaults on Palestinian civilians and refugee camps, the Israeli regime has once again demonstrated its blatant disregard for legal, international, and humanitarian standards," Kanaani stated. 

Kanaani specifically condemned the use of bunker-buster bombs in the airstrike, which created large craters and left several victims unaccounted for. Rescue teams, according to local Palestinian media, are struggling to recover bodies from the devastation caused by the attack, with fires still burning and Israeli reconnaissance drones flying overhead.

The Iranian diplomat also called on the United Nations Security Council and other international organizations to take immediate action, urging them to enforce international law and prevent further atrocities. He framed the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza, and its broader aggression across the West Asia region, as a direct threat to global peace and security. 

Kanaani condemned Israel for committing war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity, warning that the situation amounts to genocide.

Witnesses to the airstrike described scenes of chaos in the al-Mawasi camp, with fires raging and people desperately trying to flee as explosions continued. According to initial reports, the attack is being regarded as "one of the most heinous massacres" since the outbreak of renewed violence between Israel and Gaza.

Since the start of the conflict, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of whom were women and children. Over 94,000 have been injured, leaving Gaza's already fragile humanitarian situation in a critical state.

As the death toll continues to rise, there are growing calls from across the international community for a ceasefire and a renewed push for diplomatic solutions to end the bloodshed. Despite this, the Israeli government has shown no signs of halting its military campaign.

‘U.S. military support for Israel unacceptable’

The spokesperson for Iranian Foreign Ministry also condemned the United States' continued military support for Israel, accusing Washington of fueling war crimes in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. 

In a note on his social media account on X, formerly known as Twitter, Kanaani criticized U.S. military aid to Israel.

Citing newly released data, Kanaani noted that Israeli forces have dropped an average of 36 kilograms of bombs and missiles on each Palestinian resident of Gaza, calling this an unprecedented level of violence even by historical standards. 

He also criticized other Western nations, particularly in Europe, which have also supplied Israel with weapons, accusing them of complicity in the ongoing genocide.

The spokesperson further argued that the continuous flow of arms to Israel from the U.S. and its allies is in direct violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention. This international treaty obliges countries to prevent genocide and ensure their weapons are not used to commit such atrocities. Iran called on the global community to hold the U.S. and other Western countries accountable for their role in perpetuating the violence.

Additionally, the note dismissed recent reports of Iranian arms transfers to certain countries as baseless propaganda, accusing the U.S. and its allies of spreading false information to divert attention from their own involvement in the Gaza conflict. 

Kanaani urged the international community to focus on stopping Israel's military actions and hold its supporters responsible for the ongoing bloodshed.