UAE and Iran clash at UN over Gulf islands

The long-running dispute between the United Arab Emirates and Iran over three strategically located islands in the Gulf flared anew at the United Nations this week.

Addressing the high-level general debate of the 81st UN General Assembly on Monday, UAE Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar rejected what he called Iran’s continued occupation of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.

Iran reaffirmed its sovereignty on Monday over its three Persian Gulf islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, with Nasser Assadi Nazari of Iran's permanent mission to the UN telling the General Assembly that the islands "have been, are and will remain integral parts of… pic.twitter.com/qKJt3J4G4F

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“As Iran continues its occupation of the three Emirati islands — Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa — which we reject, the United Arab Emirates has consistently called for a peaceful settlement of this conflict, whether through direct negotiations or by recourse to the International Court of Justice,” Al Marar said.

He framed the position within the UAE’s broader foreign policy of de-escalation, diplomacy, respect for sovereignty and adherence to the UN Charter.

Iran responded swiftly via the right of reply.

Nasser Asadi, a counsellor at Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, told the Assembly that Tehran’s sovereignty over the islands is non-negotiable.

“These islands have always been, are and will be an inseparable part of Iran’s territory, and Iran’s sovereignty over them is not negotiable,” he stated.

“We categorically reject any claim regarding these islands.”

He also insisted that “Persian Gulf” is the only correct historical and geographical name for the body of water, one recognized by the UN system.

Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi reinforced the Iranian stance on social media.

He said the repetition of claims, even from the UN General Assembly podium, does not change reality.

Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb “are an integral part of Iranian territory,” he wrote, urging Emirati officials to adhere to the requirements of good-neighborliness and the historical and legal realities of the region rather than repeating what he claimed were baseless claims.

The islands lie near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments.

Iran has controlled them since Iranian forces took possession on November 30, 1971—two days before the formal establishment of the UAE.

The UAE has long maintained that the move constituted an unlawful occupation of territory belonging to the emirates of Sharjah (Abu Musa) and Ras Al Khaimah (the Tunbs), and it first raised the issue at the UN Security Council in December 1971.

Tehran, by contrast, regards the islands as historically and inseparably Iranian.

Both sides have held firm for more than five decades.

The UAE continues to offer bilateral negotiations or referral to the International Court of Justice and says it will accept the court’s ruling.

Iran has consistently rejected those options, describing sovereignty as non-negotiable and dismissing Emirati claims as unfounded.