Iran Stresses Sovereignty on Disputed Gulf IslandsIran Sunday reiterated its sovereignty over the three disputed islands of the greater and lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa.Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi was quoted by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) as saying that the three islands are and will remain integral and permanent parts of Iranian territory. Policies adopted by the Iranian government on all the Iranian territories and islands in the Persian Gulf, including the above three islands, are the basic rights and principles of Iranian government's national sovereignty, the spokesman said, adding that conduction of any maneuvers in the regions under Iran's control are an internal issue and Iran's inalienable right. Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have had disputes over the sovereignty of the three potentially oil-rich islands. Asefi called on the friendly Arab states to encourage the UAE to hold direct talks with Iran without any precondition within the framework of Iran's principled policy on support for stability and security in the Persian Gulf region. The UAE and all countries which feel responsible for stability and security of the region should refrain from adopting policies and methods whose destructive outcome will cause sufferings for regional people and governments, he said. |
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