Political disputes increase between United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia

Disputes among states belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council escalated in the last meeting of the GCC foreign ministers, held in Riyadh.

The council concluded its works yesterday without a concluding statement, which confirms that the council did not resolve differences between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Gulf sources in Cairo told ArabicNews.com that Saudi Arabia refused a statement to be issued that includes accusations against Iran due to its occupation of three Gulf Islands the UAE says are UAE lands occupied by Iran.

The UAE refused to issue a statement that did not criticize Iran for occupying the islands, a position supported by Oman and Qatar, while Bahrain stood by Saudi Arabia.