Iran Summons Chinese Envoy Over Disputed Gulf Islands

The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador to protest against Beijing's joint statement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) related to the three disputed islands controlled by Iran but claimed by the UAE.

In the 47-point joint statement, Beijing said it supported the UAE’s efforts to peacefully resolve the issue of the disputed islands through “bilateral negotiations under the norms of international law”.

China’s Ambassador to Tehran Cong Peiwu was summoned by Mohammad Ali Bak, Assistant Minister and Director General of the Persian Gulf at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on June 2, according to the Ministry website.

The Iranian government’s protest regarding the repeated support of the Chinese government for the “baseless claims” stated in paragraph 26 of the final statement of the joint meeting of the Chinese and UAE officials during UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed’s visit to Beijing on May 30, was conveyed to him along with a protest note.

In this meeting, Mohammad Ali Bak, recalled the special and excellent relations between Iran and China, and emphasized “the eternal belonging of the three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf to the Islamic Republic of Iran”.

He stated that the Iranian government rejects and considers unacceptable any claim from any party in this regard and added that considering the strategic cooperation between Tehran and Beijing, the Chinese government is expected to revise its stance on this matter.

On June 3, when asked about Iran's protest at a regular press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning repeated her call for Iran and the UAE to resolve their differences through dialogue and consultation, saying that "the relevant contents of the China-UAE Joint Statement are consistent with China's position".

She added that China and Iran had a strong relationship, and that China attached great importance to the development of their strategic partnership.

It is the second time Tehran has voiced its dissatisfaction over China’s stance on the Iran-UAE territorial dispute. In December 2022, Tehran summoned the Chinese ambassador when the three islands were mentioned in a joint China-GCC statement, despite Iran’s close alliance with China.

The UAE claims that the islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf were occupied by Iran forcefully in the 1970s, while Tehran consistently rejects those claims.

Lesser and Greater Tunb have been under Iran’s control since November 1971, following the departure of British forces from the Persian Gulf and a few days before the UAE declared independence in December 1971. The UAE has also disputed Iran’s sovereignty over Abu Musa, according to the 1971 memorandum of understanding, which should be jointly administered with Iran for civil matters in the southern part of the island.