Iran (IMNA) - He stressed that the islands are an “inseparable part of Iran’s territorial integrity” and that any claim over them remains “groundless and invalid,” noting that such positions contradict principles of respect for territorial integrity and good neighborliness.
Baghaei emphasized that Iran has exercised “effective, continuous and undisputed” sovereignty over the three islands for centuries, and that repeated assertions do not alter “geographical and historical realities” nor generate legal rights for others. While reiterating Iran’s commitment to good neighborliness and regional stability, he called on the UAE and GCC to refrain from provocative statements that undermine bilateral relations.
He highlighted that Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs have historically belonged to Iran, supported by extensive historical, legal, and geographical documentation from Iran and beyond. Although the islands came under British control in 1921, Iran’s sovereignty was restored on November 30, 1971, one day after the British withdrawal and two days before formation of the UAE.
Turning to energy disputes, Baghaei rejected unilateral claims by Kuwait regarding the Arash gas field, stressing that repeated statements and unilateral assertions “create no legal rights.” He said an equitable and lasting solution requires bilateral dialogue, joint engagement, and a constructive environment to ensure shared interests. Iran maintains clear rights to its portion of the Arash field, describing it as a joint offshore reservoir historically recognized by both Iran and Kuwait for six decades, with nearly 40 percent located in Iranian waters.
Iran has dismissed recent GCC statements asserting exclusive Saudi-Kuwaiti ownership of the field, calling them baseless and contrary to historical negotiations. Tehran insists that unilateral development efforts by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, including their 2022 agreement, lack legal foundation since maritime borders among the three states have never been formally demarcated. Iran maintains that its rights cannot be erased by such declarations and that only a trilateral demarcation process and cooperative development framework can determine each side’s rightful share.
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