Iran’s parliament speaker on Saturday condemned a GCC statement rejecting Iranian sovereignty over three Persian Gulf islands, warning that neighbors should not test the Iranian people's will to defend their territorial integrity.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the GCC position repeated in the bloc’s closing communiqué after its Bahrain summit on Wednesday relied on “baseless and absurd claims encouraged by outside actors.”
Such language, he said, violated principles of territorial respect and good-neighborliness.
The GCC statement reiterated its backing for the United Arab Emirates, which claims Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa – territories controlled by Iran since 1971, when the Shah’s government took over the islands following Britain’s military withdrawal.
Tehran rejects any challenge to its sovereignty, and figures across Iran’s political spectrum oppose UAE claims.
Long-running dispute resurfaces
The islands issue has become a standard feature of GCC ministerial meetings and joint statements with partners including the EU and China. These declarations routinely “support UAE efforts” to resolve the dispute and encourage negotiations or referral to the International Court of Justice.
Iran typically answers such communiqués with statements and diplomatic protests. It summoned EU representatives after the bloc issued similar language in October, and lodged objections with Beijing in 2024 when China echoed the call for a “peaceful settlement.”
The territories, Ghalibaf said, were “pieces of Iran’s body,” urging regional states to avoid actions that could escalate tensions.
Although the three islands remain the core flashpoint, a newer dispute over the Arash/Durra gas field has entered GCC statements.
Kuwait and Saudi Arabia assert joint ownership, while Iran maintains overlapping claims, adding another layer of friction to an already crowded Persian Gulf maritime file.
