Iran’s Three Islands: Symbols of Sovereignty, History, and Diplomatic Deadlock
WANA (Dec 02) – “The policies of foreign powers and their ambitions toward Iran’s islands will fail; the Iranian nation’s historical right to these islands is beyond doubt.” These were the words of the Commander of the Iranian Army Navy, spoken on the occasion of Iran’s newly designated National Day of the Three Islands.
Yet this statement is far more than a routine military declaration. It encapsulates a long-standing regional dispute that has now entered a new phase of public diplomacy following the official designation of 30 November as the National Day of Iran’s Three Islands. Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb are no longer merely three strategic dots on the map; they have become symbols of the redefinition of national sovereignty, the geopolitics of regional power projection, and unresolved fractures within the Middle Eastern security order.
As Iran’s Supreme Leader, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, has stated: “These islands are extremely strategic… Foreign powers want tension here to justify their own presence… For us, this point—the islands—is a matter of life and death.”
Located at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, these islands sit along a maritime chokepoint through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil trade passes every day. Control over them equates to the ability to monitor and influence one of the most critical global energy corridors.
In naval geopolitics, a few square kilometers of land can sometimes outweigh hundreds of kilometers of territory inland. For Iran, the three islands serve exactly this function:
They form the connective link between territorial sovereignty and maritime deterrence.
Baghaei: The Three Islands Will Always Belong to Iran
WANA (Sep 28) – Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, strongly rejected the claims made in the joint statement of the foreign ministers’ meeting between the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) and the United Kingdom concerning Iran’s three islands in the Persian Gulf. Baghaei reaffirmed […]
What Is the Dispute About — and Why Does It Persist?
Following its official formation in the early 1970s, the United Arab Emirates asserted a claim to the three islands—claims that were immediately and unequivocally rejected by Tehran.
The roots of the dispute go far beyond historical disagreement. They revolve around three central dimensions:
- International law and historical ownership
- Geopolitical control of the Strait of Hormuz
- Competition for regional status and influence
Strait of Hormuz. Social media/ WANA News Agency
Across all three layers, Iran maintains the stronger position—based on historical documentation, effective sovereignty on the ground, and uninterrupted administrative control of the islands. Nevertheless, Emirati claims—often echoed by certain extra-regional actors—continue to resurface in diplomatic forums and media narratives, seeking to politicize what Iran considers a legally closed case.
Tehran’s Response: Beyond a Symbolic Commemoration
The official recognition of the “National Day of the Three Islands” is not merely symbolic.
From Tehran’s perspective, the issue is non-negotiable, because it concerns sovereignty rather than a border dispute. This position is consistently reflected in the statements of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has repeatedly emphasized: “The three islands have always belonged to Iran and will always remain Iranian,”
adding more bluntly: “There is no room for maneuver or courtesy regarding the three islands.”
These statements define Iran’s diplomatic red line: there is no legal ambiguity and no mandate for renewed negotiation—only the rejection of politically motivated claims and the consolidation of established ownership.
Iran to Defend Sovereignty over Three Islands in International Forums
WANA (Oct 13) – The head of Iran’s Article 90 Commission of Parliament announced that, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iran will pursue a full legal defense in international forums to reaffirm its undisputed sovereignty over the three Persian Gulf islands. This action comes in response to what Tehran described as baseless statements […]
A New Legal Step: Formal Codification of Sovereignty
Iran’s latest move in the realm of international property and territorial registration represents a calculated legal reinforcement: Official cadastral deeds—detailing precise geospatial specifications—have now been issued for each of the three islands in the name of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and registered within the National Surveying and Mapping Authority:
- Greater Tunb: over 10 million square meters
- Lesser Tunb: approximately 1.4 million square meters
- Abu Musa: over 12.7 million square meters
This step is more than administrative formalism; it represents the highest tier of legally documented sovereign ownership available within Iran’s domestic system, carrying significant international legal relevance. It effectively limits future attempts at diplomatic reinterpretation or political appropriation of the islands’ status.
IRGC Chief: Any Hostile Move at Sea Will Face a Decisive Response
WANA (Oct 06) – The Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) emphasized that any move by enemies in the sea or on the islands will be met with a full and forceful response from the IRGC Navy. Major General Mohammad Pakpour, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC, made the remarks during a visit to […]
Why Does the UAE Persist?
Abu Dhabi’s determination is driven less by legal arguments than by geopolitical ambition.
Even symbolic influence over the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz would elevate the UAE’s standing in regional energy, logistics, and security calculations. This aspiration fuels continuous diplomatic lobbying and media pressure—despite the fact that the balance of control on the ground remains decisively in Iran’s favor.
In this sense, the dispute is less about territory than it is about competing visions of regional influence.
A Brief Historical Lens
Historical records confirm that from the Safavid through Qajar periods—spanning the early 16th to early 20th centuries—the three islands were under Iranian rule.
In the 19th century, Britain’s colonial strategy in the Persian Gulf sought to dominate maritime routes, relegating the islands to geopolitical ambiguity.
On 30 November 1971, simultaneous with the British military withdrawal from the Gulf, Iran reasserted full control over the islands through coordinated naval, air, and ground operations—bringing to an end decades of uncertainty and marking the definitive restoration of Iranian sovereignty.
Three Questions for Today
1. Security or Identity?
These islands are not merely military assets; they are part of Iran’s collective historical memory. Does the international community recognize the identity and continuity of nations—or only power equations?
2. International Law or Political Pressure?
When settled legal issues are reopened through political and media campaigns, how effective are international legal norms in practice?
3. Diplomacy or Ground Reality?
In today’s turbulent world, is territorial legitimacy shaped more by negotiation—or by sustained presence and formal legal documentation?
Three Fingers: A Symbol Reinforcing Iran’s Claim Over the Three Islands
WANA (Oct 25) – In a recent collective initiative, Iranian social media users have turned a well-known symbol into a powerful reminder of Iran’s historical claim over the three islands: Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa. Inspired by the “three-finger” sign—a popular gesture in Emirati culture—Iranian users have shared images using this pose across […]
The National Day of the Three Islands is not a ceremonial observance. It is a declaration of Iran’s status in the Persian Gulf—a convergence of history, law, security, and political resolve.
The three islands today are far more than points on a map; they are pieces of a larger puzzle defining Iran’s identity and strategic power in the region.
