Iran assures its readiness to negotiate with UAE regarding the island issue

Iran stated yesterday that it is ready to convene a meeting with officials from the United Arab Emirates to discuss the conflict between them.

The spokesman of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Hamed Reda Asifi, expressed his hope that the Iranian proposal answers the concern from the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council convened in Riyadh to prepare for the summit scheduled this month, and their meeting discussed the problem of the three islands whose sovereignty is disputed between Iran and UAE, Abu Mousa and the Lesser and Greater Tunbs.

The UAE, which accuses Iran of occupying three islands, showed its readiness to negotiate with Tehran on the condition of holding talks regarding the island first. Tehran did not specify whether it has changed its stance regarding negotiating on the sovereignty on the three islands or on Abu Mousa Island only.