United Arab Emirates declare Iran’s island offices “illegal”
10th September
According to a statement released by the Gulf Cooperation Council, the ministerial council has demanded the removal of two offices which have been established by Iran on the disputed island of Abu Musa.
The 12km island, which is “heavily fortified and populated by soldiers” was annexed in 1992, with neighboring Greater and Lesser Tunbs having been claimed in 1971. These islands have long been a source of ongoing contention, and although the islands are under Iranian control, the United Arab Emirates continue to claim sovereignty to the land, with wide support from the Arab community.
While the UAE have proposed settling the dispute through the International Courts, Iran has reportedly refused to allow any third party involvement or mediation.
“Key for tanker traffic”
Abu Musa is situated in the Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and the UAE – a waterway which is used for transportation of oil via tankers from the Gulf which according to figures carries a fifth of the world’s oil supply.
The two offices on the island are, according to Iran, merely there for administration purposes and to help with “ship registration and maritime rescue.” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi has insisted that Iran’s activities on the island are within their rights, however, the GCC have reportedly expressed concerns that the move is a strategic one, designed to result in Iran having a greater degree of control over shipping traffic.
Middle East editor David Hartwell for ‘Jane’s Country Risk’ has suggested that the strategic importance of the island lies at the heart of the dispute. Indeed, in the “war of the tankers” of the 1980’s, Abu Musa acted as the base from which Iran fired missiles at Iraqi oil tankers.
In November 2005, a British couple and Australian yachtsman were held by the Iranian authorities for 13 days under armed guard, having approached the island by sea, unaware of the sensitivities surrounding it.
According to a statement released by the Gulf Cooperation Council, the ministerial council has demanded the removal of two offices which have been established by Iran on the disputed island of Abu Musa.
The 12km island, which is “heavily fortified and populated by soldiers” was annexed in 1992, with neighboring Greater and Lesser Tunbs having been claimed in 1971. These islands have long been a source of ongoing contention, and although the islands are under Iranian control, the United Arab Emirates continue to claim sovereignty to the land, with wide support from the Arab community.
While the UAE have proposed settling the dispute through the International Courts, Iran has reportedly refused to allow any third party involvement or mediation.
“Key for tanker traffic”
Abu Musa is situated in the Strait of Hormuz, between Iran and the UAE – a waterway which is used for transportation of oil via tankers from the Gulf which according to figures carries a fifth of the world’s oil supply.
The two offices on the island are, according to Iran, merely there for administration purposes and to help with “ship registration and maritime rescue.” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi has insisted that Iran’s activities on the island are within their rights, however, the GCC have reportedly expressed concerns that the move is a strategic one, designed to result in Iran having a greater degree of control over shipping traffic.
Middle East editor David Hartwell for ‘Jane’s Country Risk’ has suggested that the strategic importance of the island lies at the heart of the dispute. Indeed, in the “war of the tankers” of the 1980’s, Abu Musa acted as the base from which Iran fired missiles at Iraqi oil tankers.
In November 2005, a British couple and Australian yachtsman were held by the Iranian authorities for 13 days under armed guard, having approached the island by sea, unaware of the sensitivities surrounding it.