Spokesman Lambasts Arabs' Claims over Iranian Islands
News number: 881220073116:17 | 2010-03-11Foriegn Policy
http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8812200731

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast blasted
the baseless claims raised by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC)
ministers on the three Iranian Islands, and described the trio as an
indispensible part of his country.

Mehman-Parast also warned that Iran considers the 114th Riyadh Ministerial
PGCC Conference on the three Iranian islands as interference in its internal
affairs.

He also strictly emphasized that the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu
Moussa islands are inseparable parts of Iran.

Pointing out that the three islands have throughout the history always been
inseparable parts of the Iranian soil, Mehmanparast added, "As it has been
said many, many times before, the slight misunderstanding regarding merely
Abu Moussa Island can be solved in the course of direct talks between Iran
and the UAE."

"The interference of others in this matter would be of no avail,"
Mehman-Parast added.

International documents clearly show that the three islands, which were
historically owned by Iran, temporarily fell to British control in 1903. The
islands were returned to Iran based on an agreement in 1971 before the UAE
was born.

Iran has repeatedly declared that its ownership of the three islands is
unquestionable.

Under international law, no state can defy any agreements, which came into
being before its establishment.

Although the UAE continues to make territorial claims against the Islamic
Republic despite historical evidence and international regulations, Tehran
has remained open to negotiations over the issue.