| On the 10th of April 2012 Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, visited Hormozgan as part of his 4th trip to all the provinces. The next day, he visited Abu Musa, a small island situated between two others, the Lesser Tunb and Greater Tunb. The United Arab Emirates wasn't happy about this, and recalled its ambassador for consultation. Even a friendly football match that was supposed to be held on the 17th of April between Iran and the UAE was canceled. On the same day the US foreign ministry spokesman Mark Turner said Washington supported the referral of the case to The International Court of Justice. He also called on Iran to agree to direct talks with the UAE on the matter. The Persian Gulf Cooperation Council held a meeting immediately after Ahmadinejad's visit, condemning it as a violation of the UAE's national sovereignty. Regarding the ownership of the Lesser Tunb and Greater Tunb, Iran says there is nothing to talk about, they belong to Iran, but as a good will gesture Tehran says it will sit down to talks to resolve any misunderstandings that might have occurred. Political wrangling between Iran and the UAE over the Lesser Tunb and Greater Tunb and especially Abu Musa, has increased in recent years. Since 1971 when British forces pulled out of this island, the Iranian government announced that Abu Musa is part of Iran, and asserted that claim by sending troops there. Iran says throughout history, these three islands were part of its territory, and remain so today ... |
