Iran-UAE Persian Gulf islands dispute

Tensions have escalated regarding Iran’s sovereignty over the three disputed islands in the Persian Gulf: Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa.

Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, warned the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that relying on the United States and Israel for security would lead to instability. He characterized such arrangements as “imported security” and criticized the UAE for hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while advocating for Islamic solidarity. This follows UAE calls at the United Nations General Assembly for a peaceful resolution through direct negotiations or the International Court of Justice.

Diplomatic friction has expanded to include Canada. Following a visit to Ottawa by the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, which resulted in an economic partnership and defense cooperation agreements, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and the Crown Prince issued a joint statement. The statement expressed support for the UAE’s claims, characterizing the islands as occupied territories and a violation of the UN Charter.

Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei responded by criticizing Canada for failing to respect national sovereignty. Baghaei described the UAE’s claims as baseless, noting that the UAE was established in 1971 while the islands have been Iranian territory for thousands of years. He further suggested that Canada should reflect on its own history of defending its borders.