Iran wants good relations with gulf states

Iran-Asefi-Persian Gulf Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi Saturday said Iran has always had a peaceful and friendly message to Muslim neighboring states of the Persian Gulf, IRNA reported on Saturday.

Iran has a dispute with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Culf Cooperation Council and the UAE have recommend that the issue be resolved thru bilateral negotiations or by referring this issue to the International Court of Justice for an unbiased arbitration, a request that Iran has so far rejected.

IRNA had reported that "Tehran has on previous occasions reiterated its sovereignty over the three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf, dismissing the UAE's request to take the 'misunderstanding' to the UN Security Council for arbitration."

It is not clear from this most recent statement by Iran if it implies a new spirit to remove all the issues and obstacles that have hindered a strong Arab-Iran ties.