WANA (Jun 03) – The spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed the repeated claims made by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regarding Iran’s three islands, stressing that the Islamic Republic will take all necessary measures within the framework of its sovereign rights to safeguard national security and interests in these territories.

 

The reaction came in response to the statement issued during the 164th Ministerial Meeting of the GCC, held on Tuesday, June 3, in Kuwait, where the Council reiterated its claims over the Iranian islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, and voiced support for the United Arab Emirates’ alleged sovereignty over them.

 

In response, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei reaffirmed Iran’s longstanding and principled position, rejecting the assertions made in the GCC’s final communiqué. He emphasized that these islands are an inseparable part of Iranian territory and underlined Iran’s commitment to protecting its sovereignty.

 

Rejection of Foreign Interference

Condemning what he described as interventionist language in the GCC statement regarding legal actions taken by competent Iranian authorities in the islands, Baghaei stated: “The Islamic Republic of Iran will take any necessary measure—concerning land, waters, or airspace—within the three islands to ensure the security and national interests of the country, in full accordance with its sovereign rights.”

 

He added that all actions by Iran concerning the islands are fully consistent with its sovereign jurisdiction and national governance over its territory.

 

Baghaei went on to reject comments in the GCC communiqué regarding civilian settlement, visits by Iranian officials, and military exercises within Iran’s sovereign borders, calling them unacceptable interference in the country’s internal affairs.

Advice to the GCC

“It is unfortunate,” Baghaei said, “that once again, the GCC members have chosen to repeat baseless claims regarding the three islands without regard for historical and geographical facts.”

 

While reiterating that these remarks have no impact on Iran’s absolute and effective sovereignty over Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, he stressed that such statements run counter to the principles of international law, especially those concerning respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

 

He concluded: “The three islands—Lesser Tunb, Greater Tunb, and Abu Musa—are an inseparable part of Iranian territory. We expect the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council to refrain from making groundless claims against Iran’s territorial integrity and instead adopt a constructive approach that builds on the commonalities among the peoples of the region.”

 

Regarding the Arash Field

Commenting on the Arash gas field, which was also mentioned in the GCC’s final statement, Baghaei affirmed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always emphasized constructive cooperation in the energy sector, including the joint exploitation of the Arash field’s hydrocarbon resources, based on bilateral negotiations and past discussions with Kuwait.

 

He added: “Undoubtedly, behavior grounded in mutual interests and shared benefits can pave the way for stronger regional cooperation.”

 

Iran has repeatedly and explicitly stated that the only logical and productive solution to the Arash field issue is a return to the table for technical and legal negotiations in the spirit of neighborly relations and mutual respect. The goal, he said, should be to reach a sustainable agreement that takes into account the legitimate interests of both parties.