EU's Support for UAE's Sovereignty Claims over Three Islands

Officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran criticized the joint statement issued after the first summit of the European Union and the Gulf Cooperation Council regarding the three islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, which supports the United Arab Emirates' claims of ownership over these islands. In the statement, released following the meeting of EU and GCC leaders in Brussels on Wednesday, October 25, Iran was accused of 'occupying' these three islands. The EU and GCC called on Iran to end what they termed the 'occupation' of these islands, emphasizing the need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries as per the UN Charter. The statement asserted that these islands belong to the UAE, and Iran's sovereignty over Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa is deemed a 'violation.' The UAE claims that the three islands in the Persian Gulf belong to it, while Iran considers these islands an inseparable and eternal part of its territory, labeling any discussions regarding their ownership as 'non-negotiable' and condemning any commentary on the matter as interference in its sovereign affairs. In response to this statement, Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, wrote on the social media platform 'X' on Thursday, October 26, that 'the era of the Europeans' malicious divide-and-rule policy in our region has long since ended.' He pointed out that 'the Iran section of the joint statement from the EU and GCC carries many messages,' accusing the EU of 'confrontation' through 'banning passenger flights and making baseless accusations of occupation against Iran.' Araghchi also stated that 'the three islands have always belonged to Iran and will forever remain so.' Ismail Baqai, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, accused European countries of adopting a 'policy of inaction and appeasement' towards Israel and urged the EU to 'avoid falling into the trap of old habits,' including what he called 'the habit of divisive interventions in the West Asian region,' allowing regional countries to resolve any misunderstandings or concerns directly in a positive atmosphere through respectful dialogue. He also criticized 'some regional countries' for making 'false territorial claims against a neighboring country.' The EU and GCC statement also emphasized the importance of diplomatic engagement with Iran and the necessity of a 'regional de-escalation policy' from Tehran based on 'respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, and avoidance of the use of force or threats.' They also stressed the need to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program and to stop the production of ballistic missiles and drones that threaten the security of countries. The statement called on Iran to fulfill all its safeguards obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. These positions were met with a response from Ismail Baqai, who described Iran's military capability enhancement as 'the inherent right of legitimate defense and deterrence' and Tehran's nuclear activities as 'entirely peaceful.' This claim comes at a time when Iran's actions have faced criticism from the United States and many countries worldwide in recent years. Previously, the United States and GCC member states expressed concern on October 4 regarding the supply of missiles and drones to proxy forces by the Islamic Republic and the threat to regional security. The ministers present at this meeting expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions in the region and reiterated their commitment to cooperate with one another to address Iran's regional activities, including Tehran's threats against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries and support for militia groups seeking to destabilize the region. They once again supported the UAE's claims of ownership over the three islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, calling for a 'peaceful solution' through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice to resolve this dispute. The foreign ministers of the GCC and the United States also reiterated their support for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and called for Iran's full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the cessation of Tehran's non-peaceful nuclear activities.