Iran summons Russian envoy over statement on disputed islands in Persian Gulf

Iran summons Russia’s charge d’affaires after Moscow and Arab countries released a joint statement last week challenging Iran’s claim to disputed islands in the Persian Gulf, state media reports.

Iran’s official IRNA news agency says the Russian envoy was summoned and handed a note to deliver to Moscow in which Tehran protested the statement the 6th Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum issued in Morocco that called for a peaceful solution to resolve the conflict between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the islands.

This marked the second time this year that Iran has called for a Russian envoy in protest over comments on the disputed islands. Tehran summoned the Russian ambassador in July over a similar statement.

The diplomatic spat is a rare occurrence between the two countries that have recently deepened their ties.

Iran took control of the three islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb after British forces withdrew in 1971. It considers them an “inseparable” part of its territory. The UAE also claims the three islands and has long pressed for a negotiated solution.