DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran summoned Russia’s rate d’affaires after Moscow and Arab international locations launched a joint observation previous this week difficult Iran’s declare to disputed islands within the Persian Gulf, state media reported Sunday.Iran’s reliable IRNA information company mentioned the Russian envoy was once summoned on Saturday and passed a observe to ship to Moscow during which Tehran protested the observation the sixth Arab-Russian Cooperation Discussion board issued in Morocco that referred to as for a calm method to unravel the battle between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the islands.Previous on Saturday, Iran’s overseas minister Hossein Amirabdollahian advised his Russian counterpart over the telephone that “respecting international locations’ sovereignty and integrity is amongst fundamental ideas within the ties between countries,” IRNA mentioned in a separate record.This marked the second one time this yr that Iran has referred to as for a Russian envoy in protest over feedback at the disputed islands. Tehran summoned the Russian ambassador in July over a identical observation.The diplomatic spat is a unprecedented incidence between the 2 international locations that experience deepened their ties since Moscow invaded Ukraine, with Iran supplying Russia with killer drones which have been used to devastating impact there. Each international locations have additionally been robust backers of President Bashar Assad in Syria’s civil struggle.In 2022, Iran summoned China’s envoy over a identical joint observation with Arab countries.Iran took keep an eye on of the 3 islands of Abu Musa, the Higher Tunb and the Lesser Tunb after British forces withdrew in 1971. It considers them an “inseparable” a part of its territory. The UAE additionally claims the 3 islands and has lengthy pressed for a negotiated answer.The 3 islands dominate the way to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway in which about one-fifth of the arena’s oil provide passes.Iran says the islands were a part of Persian states from antiquity up till they have been occupied by means of the British within the early twentieth century. It additionally says an settlement reached with Sharjah, one of the crucial UAE’s seven emirates, offers it the appropriate to manage Abu Musa and station troops there.There is not any such settlement at the different two islands. The UAE says they belonged to the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah till Iran seized them by means of drive days sooner than the Emirati federation was once shaped.
