The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Monday urged Iran to relinquish control of three Persian Gulf islands which it has held since 1971 following Britain’s withdrawal from the region.
“Any decisions, practices, or actions taken by Iran on the three islands are null and void and do not alter the historical and legal facts that confirm the UAE’s right of sovereignty,” the GCC said in a final statement after its 165th ministerial council session in Kuwait.
The bloc added that the islands are “an indivisible part of UAE territory.”
The three islands — Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa — have been in dispute since the British withdrew their armed forces in 1971 and Iran's last Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi sent the Iranian navy to secure them.
Iranian forces remain on the islands, with only Abu Musa having a civilian population which is less than two thousand.
Historical claims
The Council called on Tehran to respond to Abu Dhabi’s efforts to resolve the issue “through direct negotiations or by referring the matter to the International Court of Justice.”
Iran maintains that the islands have been an intrinsic part of its sovereign territory, asserting that it has never ceded ownership.
The UAE counters that throughout the 19th century, the islands were under the jurisdiction of the Qasimi sheikhs and that their claim was transferred to the UAE upon its establishment in 1971.
Nuclear standoff
The GCC also addressed Iran’s nuclear program, saying any negotiations on this matter should address the council members' concerns as well.
“The Council expressed the GCC states' readiness to cooperate and deal effectively with this file and stressed the necessity of their participation in all related regional and international negotiations, discussions and meetings,” the statement said.
The GCC called on Iran to pursue a constructive cooperation framework with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as well as adherence to all relevant international agreements.
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, also known as E3 countries, triggered the 30-day process of UN snapback sanctions last week, calling on Iran to find a diplomatic solution to resolve the disputes.
The three European countries said Iran must resume nuclear talks with the United States, clarify the status of its highly enriched uranium stockpile and restore access to IAEA inspectors.
