An issue that must be resolved peacefully

The disagreement between Iran and the UAE over the islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs has spanned decades. The UAE has continuously and repeatedly tried to resolve the dispute through peaceful measures. Its stand is based on a belief that diplomatic or legal channels are the appropriate routes to ending the dispute. The following is a look at the history of the issue and its development over the years.

During the Nineteenth Century an empire was expanding. The Qawasim, who ruled Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, were extending their power in the Arabian Gulf. Their empire reached the Persian coast as well as India and the eastern shores of Africa.

Historical records show that the Qawasim that settled on the Persian coast ruled a number of islands, while the Qawasim of Ras Al Khaimah ruled the islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs. The island of Abu Musa came under Sharjah rule.

In 1877, the Persian invasion of Linjah ended the Qawasim's one and a quarter century of rule in that area. In addition, Iran raised its flag on the three islands of Abu Musa and the Tunbs. Initially, the British objected to this act but eventually conceded. The Rulers of each emirate also objected strongly.

The Ruler of Sharjah granted a number of foreign companies the right to explore for red oxide on the island of Abu Musa in 1898. The right of exploration was again granted in 1923 and 1935, the latter extending for 21 years. In 1937 he granted the right to another foreign company to explore for oil, and again in 1970.

In 1904, the Iranian government claimed the right to the extraction of red oxide from Abu Musa. It also removed all the flags of the emirates of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah from the three islands. Britain demanded that Iran remove its flags from all the islands, as all such territory was under the sovereignty of each emirate. Eventually, the Iranian government conceded. But in 1923, Iran again advanced the claim that the islands were Iranian territory.

In 1929, the Ras Al Khaimah Ruler, Sheikh Sultan bin Salim Al Qasimi, raised the flag of his emirate over the Tunbs again. In the same year, Iran offered to purchase the two Tunbs. The offer, advanced by the British, was strongly rejected by the Ruler. Again in 1930, Iran suggested the lease of the islands for a period of 50 years, an offer that was turned down once more.

During the period between 1929-30, Iran and Britain were finalising an agreement between themselves. Both parties agreed that the three islands would remain under the Qawasim's rule. During the negotiations, Iran offered to give up its claim over Abu Musa in return to stop demanding the Tunbs. In 1930, Britain carried this offer to the Rulers of the two emirates who rejected it.

In 1934, the British government warned the Iranian government of any action that would change the three islands' status quo since they fell under the sovereignty of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, agreed with a British company to search for red oxide on Abu Musa. A year later, the two parties signed an exclusivity agreement granting the company the sole rights for the operation. The company exported the first shipment in 1939.

In 1952, the Ruler of Sharjah again granted red oxide exploration rights to a foreign company. Another right to explore for oil was granted to two American companies in 1964. But during the same year, Iran stationed some military personnel on Abu Musa. It claimed that such a stationing was part of an emergency military exercise. Twenty days later, the Iranian personnel were withdrawn. Iran later approached the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah to lease the Tunbs in return for helping him build schools and hospitals, a request that was again rejected.

In 1968, the British announced their intention to withdraw from the Gulf by the end of 1971. Efforts were initiated to create a union between the different emirates. This culminated into what is known today as the UAE.

During the period between 1970-71, the British supervised and mediated to bring about a resolution between the Rulers of Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah on the one hand and Iran on the other. The negotiations resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Iran and Sharjah on November 20, 1971.

The agreement reached between Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, and the Iranians stipulated a number of issues. These included:

1. That Sharjah has the sole sovereignty over the island.
2. The inhabitants of the island are under the control and jurisdiction of the government of Sharjah.
3. Sharjah's flag will always be raised over the island.
4. If oil is discovered on the island, the income would be shared equally between the governments of Sharjah and Iran.
5. Iran is allowed to station some military personnel on specified and agreed upon parts of the island, for a specified period of time.

Both parties had agreed that this arrangement was on a temporary basis. Iran later advanced its request to purchase the Tunbs from Ras Al Khaimah, which was again rejected.

But as the date for declaring the UAE's independence drew closer, Iran took over the islands on November 29, 1971. The UAE government objected strongly to the occupation and filed an official complaint with the UN.

The international body called for a peaceful resolution to the dispute between the two countries. The UAE since its independence has repeatedly called for and supported such a resolution.

In 1978, President His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in an interview, again called on Iran to resolve the issue peacefully through dialogue or a court of justice, that is the International Court of Justice.

The UAE has also expressed its willingness to enter into direct and unconditional dialogue with Iran. And if such a course of process fails, then the UAE is willing to resort to the International Court of Justice and accept its ruling, regardless of the outcome.

Again in 1980, the UAE tried through diplomatic channels and peaceful measures to end the issue peacefully. Rashid Abdallah, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that the UAE had relentlessly tried to resolve the issue peacefully. "It is our right and we do not want anything else but to regain our rights," he said.

In 1992, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, paid a visit to Iran to discuss the issue in an effort to resolve it through peaceful means. A meeting between the UAE and Iranian counterparts followed in Abu Dhabi during the same year.

During the discussions, the UAE expressed its willingness to pursue a peaceful resolution to the problem. But during the same year, Iran had turned away more than 100 of Abu Musa's residents. The UAE government described the act as provocative.

The Gulf Cooperation Council called on Iran in 1993 at its 14th summit to respond to Sheikh Zayed's call for direct talks between the two countries. The GCC had further declared its support to the UAE in its stance to reach a peaceful resolution to the dispute. The Arab League also expressed its support and demanded that the issue be presented to the UN Security Council.

In 1994, a number of Western countries exp