Iran's frustration was palpable concerning the recent wrap-up declaration put forth during the sixth round of the strategic discussion between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Russia, recently held in Moscow. Iranian Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said, "We won't back down on the sovereignty and unity of Iranian territories." He made it clear that his country wouldn't disregard Russia's stance on the three Emirati islands Iran occupies (Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa) mentioned in the concluding statement.
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Amir-Abdollahian was cited as saying that the concluding statement "kept bringing up allegations about the three Iranian islands."
The Iranian response didn't end there; the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in the Russian ambassador in Tehran, Alexei Dedov, to hand over a memorandum of protest regarding the contents of the concluding statement from the Moscow meeting between Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Ali Reza Enayati, the Iranian Foreign Ministry's Gulf Affairs official, passed on Iran's objection about the statement's contents to the Russian ambassador. He asserted that "the three Iranian islands, Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, are an eternal part of Iranian territory," urging Russia to rectify its stance on this matter, as reported by an Iranian news agency.
The concluding statement clearly backed "affirmed their support for all peaceful efforts, including the initiative of the UAE and its endeavors, to reach a peaceful solution to the issue of the three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice, in accordance with the rules of international law and the UN Charter, to resolve this issue in accordance with international legitimacy."
This completely unbiased text aligns perfectly with Russia's stance, as they repeatedly stress their desire to strengthen security and stability in the Gulf region. It's evident that supporting efforts to resolve any disputes is a priority for Russia in this situation. Without a doubt, this text directs the entire matter to international law, from which Tehran distances itself, raising valid questions about the legitimacy of its claims to these islands.
Historical and legal documents all back up the UAE's sovereignty over them. Russia's position in endorsing the statement containing this text is clear and straightforward. However, Iran is well aware of the sensitivity surrounding Russia's stance, given its involvement in a fierce war with Ukraine, fully backed by NATO countries.
Iran also comprehends the value Russia places on Iran's ongoing support for its position and hopes that Russia will return the favor by rejecting the passage of this text. Nonetheless, reality doesn't align with Iran's perception. Russia is a major power with intertwined interests with various parties, including the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. It can't risk jeopardizing its interests with these nations just to appease Iran. Especially taking into account that the statement simply calls on Iran to turn to international legitimacy to resolve the dispute with the UAE, with whom Russia has comprehensive strategic partnerships that are just as important as its relationship with Tehran.
Those who follow Iranian media can see how some Iranian writers and former officials portray Russia's stance as a betrayal. They understand that the anger comes from both China and Russia adopting the same position regarding the three occupied islands. Some even suggest the possibility of Iran changing its stance on the Tibetan Plateau and Taiwan. It seems that this event has brought stark contrasts in Iranian relations between the East and the West to the forefront. It becomes clear that advocates of the Western rapprochement haven't given up or abandoned their demands. They continue to strive for normalizing relations with the "Great Satan."
In strategic terms, the Iranian side should have realized that the neutral stance taken by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries regarding the Ukraine war brings about a noteworthy and perhaps unforeseen change, even from Russia itself. The decision to adopt this position was made after carefully calculating strategic costs, while Iran's support for Russia was not unexpected. Looking at it objectively, Tehran used this political stance as part of its negotiations with the US to bring back the nuclear deal signed in 2015.
Evidently, every move Iran makes toward Russia puts pressure on the West at the core and forefront of its objectives. Russia is not far from grasping this tactic, which, by the way, is a legitimate approach in international relations, using pressure cards to ensure states achieve their goals and interests.
Therefore, Iran, which firmly stands its ground on national sovereignty, should not bank on receiving special treatment from anyone at the expense of their strategic interests. It's common knowledge that Russia's overall current and anticipated strategic interests with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries far outweigh its interests with Iran. However, this matter isn't up for comparison or assessment since Russia is already forging partnerships with all parties in the Gulf region. This approach is built on finding a balance that sidesteps certain sensitive issues still lingering along both shores of the Gulf due to Iran's failure to make sincere and conclusive efforts toward regional de-escalation.
As an observer, I don't find any inconsistency between Iran's claim of having documents and evidence supporting its ownership of the three occupied islands and turning to international arbitration, which can settle the matter based on the presented evidence and documentation. Likewise, I don't see any clash between fostering friendly and cooperative relations across the Gulf and the UAE asserting its sovereign right to the three occupied islands.
Resorting to international law embodies the highest level of civilized practices in resolving disputes and conflicts between nations. So, it's odd that Tehran views this as a contradiction and believes that resuming relations means ignoring the legitimate rights of states and peoples, especially when Iran claims there's no favoritism in sovereign affairs.
The bottom line is, these stances and swift advancements showcase the triumph of Gulf diplomacy in reaching out globally and establishing well-rounded relations with all major powers, guaranteeing robust backing for the concerns and strategic interests of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and their people.
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