Iran’s sovereignty over 3 Persian Gulf islands is non-negotiable: Iranian FM spokesman

TEHRAN,April 19(MNA) – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast said on Wednesday that Iran’s sovereignty over the three Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs is not negotiable. Mehmanparast made the remarks in response to the statement that was issued at the end of the special meeting of foreign ministers of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council member states, which was held in the Qatari capital Doha on April 17. In their statement, the member states condemned Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to Abu Musa on April 11 as a “provocative act and a flagrant violation” of the United Arab Emirates’ sovereignty over the three islands and contrary to the policy of good neighborliness, the Gulf Times newspaper reported. They also wrote that the visit would not change the historical and legal facts that assert the sovereignty of the UAE over the islands. The UAE has repeatedly questioned Iran’s sovereignty over the three Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and urged Tehran to agree to take the dispute to the International Court of Justice in The Hague or engage in direct negotiations. Iran says its sovereignty over the islands is not negotiable but has called for talks with the UAE to clear up misunderstandings. Mehmanparast condemned the PGCC statement and called it a “blatant interference in the Islamic Republic of Iran’s internal affairs.” Iran’s sovereignty over the three islands is indisputable, he added, noting that the country’s principled policy is to expand relations with its neighbors and adhere to the principles of trust and good neighborliness. 225 MPs dismiss UAE claims to Iranian islands Two hundred and twenty five Iranian MPs issued a statement on Wednesday dismissing the UAE’s claims of sovereignty over the three Persian Gulf islands. The MPs wrote that Ahmadinejad’s visit to the island of Abu Musa was an “internal issue” but stated that the Islamic Republic will negotiate with UAE officials to clear up misunderstandings. The UAE recalled its ambassador to Tehran for consultations on April 11 over the issue. In addition, the Emirates news agency reported on April 16 that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash had summoned the Iranian ambassador to Abu Dhabi to protest about Ahmadinejad’s visit. The UAE foreign minister met ambassadors representing UN Security Council member states in Abu Dhabi on April 15 to convey his country’s protest to Ahmadinejad’s visit.