Iran regrets GCC statement over UAE islands

Iran has expressed its regret over statements made by the secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Kuwaiti foreign minister in which they voiced their support for the protest expressed by the United Arab Emirates over Iran's opening of a municipality council on Abu Mousa island, which is one of three Gulf Islands under conflict between the UAE and Iran.

In a statement he made in Tehran on Sunday, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Hamid Rida Asifi, said that such statements "in remarks to statements made by the GCC secretary general and the Kuwaiti FM" will not help eliminate the misunderstanding between countries and will "not make a change in the Iranian policy."

The Iranian spokesman called on the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council to continue their efforts in order to foster relations among the region's member states. He, at the same time, stressed Iran's right to the three islands of Greater Tanb, Lesser Tanb and Abu Mousa. He added that Iran is ready to make a constructive dialogue with the UAE in the course of the memorandum of understanding signed in 1971, but with no previous set preconditions.

Earlier on Saturday, the secretary general of the GCC announced his support for the objection raised by the UAE against Iran for inaugurating a municipality headquarters on Abu Mousa island. Similar announcements were made by the Kuwaiti foreign minister in an interview with the London-based Middle East daily.