Reply of the Delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran
to the statement by United Arab Emirates
Before the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
On “General Debate”
New York, 26 September 2022
In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Mr. President;
I am taking the floor to exercise the right of reply in response to the statement made by the representative of the United Arab Emirates, during the General Debate on Saturday, 24th September, in which once again assaulted Iran’s territorial integrity by repeating a baseless claim about Iranian three islands in the Persian Gulf.
We regard such an irresponsible statement and unfounded claim as interference in Iran's internal affairs, which violates fundamental principles of international law, including the principles of good neighborliness and non-interference in the domestic affairs of other sovereign states, and we strongly reject it.
The three islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf have been and continue to be an inseparable and integral part of Iranian territory, and Iran reiterates its sovereignty over those islands. Therefore, any claim to the contrary is categorically rejected.
Any decision with regard to and measures taken in those islands by Iranian officials has always been taken on the basis of the principle of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has always pursued a policy of friendship and good neighborliness towards all its neighboring countries and would like to express its aims at strengthening bilateral relations with United Arab Emirates; Meanwhile, I would like to reemphasize that the territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its sovereignty over the aforementioned islands are not negotiable.
It is also obvious that based on historical facts, established years before the birth of the United Arab Emirates, these islands were Iranian, are Iranian, and will remain Iranian.
It should also be reminded that the term “Persian Gulf” has been the only correct appellation for the body of water situated between the Arabian Peninsula and the Iranian plateau, since 500 years Before Christ, and will remain so forever.