Thursday, June 28, 2012

US-UAE Joint Statement on the Three Islands

The US and the UAE on Wednesday issued a joint statement calling for a peaceful resolution of the status of the islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs. The UAE has territorial claims over the three Persian Gulf islands that have been under Iranian control since the departure of the British from the Gulf in 1971.

The joint statement was issued after President Obama met for lunch with UAE Crown Prince Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the White House.

 “(The US) strongly supports the UAE’s initiative to resolve the issue through direct negotiations, the International Court of Justice, or another appropriate international forum,” the statement said. (AFP)

In a thinly veiled reference to Iran, the statement reiterated the critical importance of keeping the Persian Gulf shipping lanes open.

“The President and Crown Prince discussed the importance of protecting critical shipping lanes against threats of aggression, terrorism, and piracy.” 


Photo Credit: President Obama and UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed at the White House. 27 June 2012. AFP

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Iran, please forget about Palestine. These Arabs are not interested in it and you should not. Just ask for the internationalization of the Jerusalem and in particular the holy Islamic Araea, so that all can get access to.
Do not fight for the rights of people who stab you at the back. You may end up losing your sovereignty and Palestine!

Anonymous said...

This shouldn't be an issue even, because the UAE didn't even exist in 1971.Iran under the monarch agreed on the status of Bahrain and the three islands.
If the UAE wants to drag this issue further then Iran has to renew its demands for the return of Bahrain.
The gulf Arabs wouldn't have dared speak to us like that a few years ago.

Anonymous said...

well the arabs were leaving on the islands before the iranians came and killed most of them so i guess it still makes it an arab island, and not to mention there are 450 arab residents still living on the island :/