Call for Action Over UAE-Occupied Islands

Two lawmakers urged the Foreign Ministry to take action against the UAE to end the “occupation of two Iranian islands”, over which Iran lost control during the Qajar Dynasty (1789–1925).

The two islands are named Aryana (or Sir Abu Neir) and Zarkooh (or Zirco).

“Unfortunately, Iran had no control over these islands in recent decades, but all historic documents prove they were part of Iran in the past,” Mojtaba Zolnour also told ICANA on Monday.

The lawmaker said Iran’s restraint and patience over “unfounded UAE claims” on the three islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb has emboldened Iran’s Arab neighbor to “raise its voice”.

“Definitely, Iran should stand up to the UAE aggression against Iranian islands,” he said.

The three Persian Gulf islands have always been part of Iran historically, the proof of which can be found in and corroborated by countless historical, legal and geographical documents.

The islands were occupied by British forces in 1921, but they withdrew in 1971 and the islands were returned to Iran’s sovereignty, days before the end of the British protectorate and formation of the UAE.

The settlement came after three years of talks between Tehran and London, which announced in 1968 that it was leaving the Persian Gulf.

Under an agreement between Iran and Britain, Iran’s Pahlavid king in 1969 dropped Iran’s claims on Bahrain, another island that has been historically part of Iran.

However, the UAE has repeatedly made baseless claims over the islands since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. In 1980, the UAE submitted its claim to the United Nations.

In the 1990s, the UAE asked Iran to agree to taking the dispute to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

Iran has responded by stating that its sovereignty over the islands is not negotiable, although it has called for bilateral talks with the UAE to clear up any misunderstandings.

Seyyed Hossein Naqavi Hosseini, another lawmaker, told ICANA on Sunday that the UAE move in occupying Iranian islands is totally against international law.

“The Foreign Ministry should react to the occupation of Iranian soil and prosecute perpetrators,” he said.

“We can go to the international court in The Hague to defend our sovereignty over Aryana and Zarkooh.”