Iran summons Cypriot envoy over ‘interventionist remarks’ in Gulf islands dispute

Iran has summoned the ambassador of Republic of Cyprus Petros Nacouzis over remarks made by his country regarding Iran’s territorial integrity.

This comes as Cypriot officials issued a joint statement with the United Arab Emirates regarding the disputed Persian Gulf islands.

The joint statement repeated UAE’s claim on three Iranian islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Director General of Persian Gulf Mohammad Alibek protested to the “interventionist remarks” concerning Iran’s territorial integrity.

“He emphasised the three islands are inseparable parts of Iranian territory, and Tehran’s historical, undisputed, and effective sovereignty over the islands is beyond question,” read the statement issued on Tuesday.

Alibek also conveyed Iran’s protest via a note of objection which was delivered to Nacouzis during the meeting.

The three islands were under British colonial rule since 1921, but one day after London’s forces left the region and days before the UAE became independent and established on December 2, 1971, Iran’s sovereignty over the islands was restored.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei had earlier in the week rejected claims on the three islands made in a joint China–UAE statement as “false and unfounded”.

The statement had been issued at the conclusion of the Chinese foreign minister’s visit to Abu Dhabi.

“Any territorial claim over the Iranian islands is in clear violation of the principle of respect for the territorial integrity of states and the norms of good neighbourliness,” he said.

Baghaei expressed regret over UAE's insistence on exploiting the visit of any diplomatic delegation by trying to raise territorial claims against Iran.

Tehran has categorically rejected Abu Dhabi’s proposal to take its claim to the arbitration of Internation Court of Justice arguing that it will not discuss its sovereign rights.

Earlier this month, Iran also slammed the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)’s decision to support the UAE’s claim over Iranian islands as well as Kuwait’s claim over Arash (also known as Al-Durrah) offshore natural gas field in the Persian Gulf.

Following the GCC summit in Bahrain, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy launched a two-day military exercise in the Persian Gulf, Oman Sea and the Strait of Hormuz which is strategic waterway for transit of oil and gas.

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