Abu Dhabi, March 13: UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahayan has said Tehran and Abu Dhabi will peacefully resolve the issue of the three Persian Gulf Islands.
The [Persian] Gulf Cooperation Council also said in a statement issued after their 118th meeting of the in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Friday that upon the request of the UAE foreign minister it would not mention the issue of the three islands of the Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa in its final resolution, Emirates News Agency reported.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast described the move as “a positive step,” IRNA reported.
He said Iran was ready for “face-to-face and direct talks” with the UAE over the issue.
The UAE has repeatedly laid claims to the three Persian Gulf islands that have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world.
The islands temporarily fell under British control in the 1800s but were returned to Iran on November 30, 1971 through a legal procedure that preceded the establishment of the United Arab Emirates as a state.
Iran has repeatedly announced readiness to hold direct talks with UAE officials regarding the misunderstandings over the implementation of the 1971 Memorandum of Understanding.
——-Agencies