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Iran's actions are despicable

Despite all UAE calls for a peaceful resolution, Iran persists in breaching international law by occupying our three islands. Those islands, Lesser Tunb, Greater Tunb and Abu Mousa, constitute an integral part of United Arab Emirates territory.

  • Gulf News
  • Published: 23:21 August 18, 2008
  • Gulf News

Despite all UAE calls for a peaceful resolution, Iran persists in breaching international law by occupying our three islands. Those islands, Lesser Tunb, Greater Tunb and Abu Mousa, constitute an integral part of United Arab Emirates territory.

Iran still ignores the UAE's reasonable initiative, which is supported by several international bodies and nations, to resort to arbitration and the rule of law. The 1971 memorandum of understanding which should govern the status of those islands neither transfers sovereignty nor makes them part of Iran. Iran's flagrant and condemnable violations of Abu Mousa, through its construction of offices on the occupied island, will not extinguish the UAE's inalienable rights. If Tehran has any documents to substantiate its claim to the occupied islands, why doesn't it submit them to international arbitration? Simply, it does not have any proof. It is an occupier which is exploiting those usurped territories in its pursuit of illegitimate acts of aggression.

Furthermore, Iran's behaviour will undermine and strain its bilateral relations with the Gulf states. It will also drain the resources and efforts of the region and its strategic plans for economic, educational, scientific, social and other developments.

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