“EU-PGCC Summit Joint Statement on Iran carries many messages. To us, it is becoming clear that path of respectful cooperation we offered in several meetings, including in New York, is being met with European desire for confrontation—including via absurd accusation that Iran is engaged in ‘occupation’,” Abbas Araqchi wrote in a post on X.
“The three islands have always belonged to Iran, and will forever remain as such Era of European malign 'divide & rule' interference in our region is long over,” he added.
The three Persian Gulf islands have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in the country and other parts of the world. However, the UAE has repeatedly laid claim to the islands.
The islands fell under British control in 1921 but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the Emirates was to become an official federation, Iran’s sovereignty over the islands was restored.