Iran at odds with allied Russia after Moscow backs UAE in island dispute

Tehran summoned Russia's ambassador connected Wednesday implicit a Moscow-endorsed connection connected 3 Gulf islands disputed by Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

The 3 isles of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb are claimed by some Tehran and the UAE, but person been held by Iran since 1971 — during the clip of the UAE's formation, aft gaining independency from Britain.

The UAE renewed demands for the 3 islands, with UAE Minister of State for International Co-Operation Reem al-Hashimy telling the U.N. General Assembly in September past year that "despite the UAE's sincere calls to peacefully resoluteness this struggle implicit the past 5 decades, we accent present that Iran has not responded. We volition ne'er relent successful voicing our assertion to these islands either done nonstop negotiations oregon done the International Court of Justice, arsenic is our morganatic right."

The UAE joins chap economical Middle East heavyweights Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar successful the Gulf Cooperation Council. Following a ministerial gathering successful Moscow connected Monday, Russia and the GCC released a associated connection that urged a diplomatic solution to the territorial dispute.  

"The ministers affirmed their enactment for each peaceful efforts, including the inaugural of the United Arab Emirates and its endeavours to scope a peaceful solution to the contented of the 3 islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, done bilateral negotiations oregon the International Court of Justice, successful accordance with the rules of planetary instrumentality and the United Nations Charter, to resoluteness this contented is successful accordance with planetary legitimacy," it said, according to the state-owned Saudi Press Agency.

Iran recognized the compulsory jurisdiction of the U.N.'s International Court of Justice precocious past month.

Tehran's ministry of overseas affairs rejected the connection connected Tuesday.

"These islands beryllium to Iran everlastingly and issuing specified statements is successful contradiction with the affable relations betwixt Iran and its neighbors," said Nasser Kanaani, spokesperson for the Iran's ministry of overseas affairs.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the continuation of the argumentation of bully neighborliness and communal respect, and considers the improvement and stableness of the portion to beryllium the corporate work of the countries of the region."

Iranian officials called connected Russia to close its presumption connected the territorial row, according to the state-owned Islamic Republic News Agency. The Russian and Iranian overseas ministries did not instantly respond to CNBC requests for comment.

Western sanctions and a dwindling excavation of commercialized partners person brought Moscow and Tehran into a concern of convenience since Russia's penetration of Ukraine. Russian troops deploy — including successful the latest overnight aerial strikes against Kyiv — Iranian-made Shahed drones successful the struggle successful Ukraine. Iran denies supplying specified weapons to Russia for this purpose. The 2 nations besides cooperate militarily successful the struggle successful Syria.

Moscow is not Iran's lone cardinal spouse to wade into blistery waters implicit the 3 Gulf islands dispute. In December, the ambassador of large Iranian lipid purchaser China was likewise summoned by Tehran, aft Beijing signed a GCC statement that claimed "support for each peaceful efforts, including the inaugural and endeavours of the United Arab Emirates to scope a peaceful solution to the contented of the 3 islands; Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, done bilateral negotiations successful accordance with the rules of planetary law, and to resoluteness this contented successful accordance with planetary legitimacy."