Russia should not contribute to Western bid to destabilize Persian Gulf: Majlis speaker

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has urged Russia not to contribute to the West’s “dangerous” geopolitical schemes aimed at destabilizing the Persian Gulf.

Qalibaf made the remarks at the beginning of an open parliamentary session on Sunday, in reaction to a recent joint statement by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Russia that challenged Iran’s sovereignty over the three islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs.

He said the Parliament “strongly rejects” the GCC-Russia joint statement, emphasizing that Iran is very serious about its territorial integrity, which has been preserved with the blood of hundreds of thousands of youths.

“Russia, which is itself a victim of the geopolitical expansionism of the West and NATO and is fighting against it, should not assist the West with its geopolitical scheme to destabilize the Persian Gulf,” he said.

“As the sole guarantor of stability in the Persian Gulf, Iran is neutralizing the West’s dangerous plots in this critical region.”

Qalibaf also noted that regional stability and economic development are possible only through honoring the principles of good neighborliness and respecting Iran’s territorial integrity.

“Our Russian neighbor should know that the path of cooperation goes through respecting the red lines of the Iranian people, including the territorial integrity and the continuation of Iran’s sovereignty over the three islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs,” he asserted.

“Authentic historical documents prove that these islands belong to Iran and that political statements cannot distort historical facts… Iran’s authority in these islands is the guarantor of the Persian Gulf stability in the face of the US hegemony.”

The Iranian nation, he said, expects Moscow to demonstrate its economic and strategic partnership with Tehran in its political and media positions to enhance mutual trust.

On Wednesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned Russia’s ambassador to Tehran, Alexey Dedov, and voiced the Islamic Republic’s objection to the joint statement.

Iran summons Russian ambassador over joint statement on Persian Gulf islands

Iran summons the Russian ambassador to protest the contents of a joint GCC-Russia statement about three islands in the Persian Gulf.

The Foreign Ministry reaffirmed that the three islands are an integral part of Iran and called on Russia to revise its stance vis-à-vis the issue.

The three Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world.

However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the islands.

The islands fell under British control in 1921 but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Iran’s sovereignty over the islands was restored.

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