ALWAGHT- Iran has strongly dismissed a joint GCC-EU statement, reaffirming its “undisputed sovereignty” over the Persian Gulf islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei condemned what he described as Europe’s “destructive and divisive” interference in Iran’s defense and nuclear programs. He rejected the GCC–EU joint statement, emphasizing Iran’s permanent and undisputed sovereignty over the Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, and Greater and Lesser Tunbs. Baghaei stressed that political claims cannot alter historical or geographical realities, noting that Iran regained control of the islands in 1971 after British withdrawal, despite repeated UAE claims.
Baghaei urged neighboring Persian Gulf countries to focus on building regional trust and confronting the real threat to stability, Israel, rather than challenging Iran’s territorial integrity. He criticized the GCC–EU statement for interfering in Iran’s internal affairs and defense capabilities, arguing that countries involved in massive arms deals and supporting aggressive regimes have no authority to comment on Iran’s indigenous military strength.
He also criticized the actions of the three European JCPOA members, who invoked the snapback mechanism to reinstate UN Security Council sanctions against Iran. Baghaei called this misuse of the agreement’s dispute resolution process “shameful” and expressed regret that GCC countries provided the EU with a platform to make false accusations, rather than holding them accountable for their actions in the region.
