The Abu Musa and Tunb Islands Dispute Explained

Situated to the west of the world's most important shipping chokepoint (The Strait of Hormuz) are the islands of Greater and Lesser Tunab and Abu Musam, all of which are disputed by Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

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By GeoVane, formerly AR Global Security and Base Rate (Global Guessing, and Crowd Money).

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Later in December 1971, Iraq, Libya, Algeria and Yemen would request a meeting of the United Nations security council to discuss the situation, a meeting at which the council would decide to “defer the matter to a later date”, and after which the matter has not been taken up by the council since.

The UAE has offered to negotiate with Iran, setting no preconditions for such negotiations, and arguing that the islands are an integral part of the country - a view which the Gulf Cooperation Council has thrown its weight behind. A first round of negotiations were held in 1992, but rendered no resolution. That same year, the UAE would briefly occupy the whole island, but later would withdraw to the Northern areas established in 1971. Since 1992, Iran has largely been described as having de-facto full control of the island, and increased its military-strategic presence there.

In 1995 another round of negotiations over the issue failed, and in 2006 members of the GCC would urge Iran to resolve the dispute through the international court of justice - something Iran has dismissed, despite calls from multiple other states.

In 2009, the UAE would approach Iran with a proposal to create a technical committee between the two states in order to foster a resolution, but Iran would not respond to the offer, leaving the dispute open until today. Three years later, a visit by then President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, would receive a furious response from the United Arab Emirates, prompting the state to recall its ambassador to Iran for consultations.
Conclusion
Tensions between the UAE and Iran still simmer over the islands, however, according to experts, there is currently little chance of the UAE ever reasserting its sovereignty over them by force, due to its weaker military position. However, the UAE has become more assertive in its foreign policy in recent years - being part of the coalition to counter Iranian backed-Houthi rebels in Yemen, and pursuing and building military and economic infrastructure in countries such as Eritrea, Djibouti and parts of Somalia where the where control of the central government is absent or dubious. The country has also not shied away from the use of non-state irregular forces and has unofficially and allegedly seized territory in strategic locations - namely, the Yemeni islands of Socotra and Perim. Again, though unlikely, the UAE’s recent increase in kinetic and geopolitical power increases the likelihood that it could attempt to retake the islands, however, it is important to emphasise the chances of this are small.

Looking forward, the future of the dispute remains uncertain, and most likely, the islands will remain under Iranian control barring an unprecedented shift in the geopolitical dynamic of the wider region, or a major diplomatic breakthrough between the two states.

[sinistera]

International documents clearly show that the three islands of the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa which were historically owned by Iran, temporarily fell to British control in 1903. The islands were returned to Iran based on an agreement in 1971 before the UAE was born.

[beepboop]

what do you mean by retake, it is iranian and always be iranian

[golikaviani]

The islands belonged to Persia and belongs to Iran.

[Marco-iylt]

With all due respect, if the narrator is going to use the names of locations, then use the correct names...it is Persian Gulf, not "The Gulf". We don't call in the UK, the Irish sea "The Sea". It is the name of the waterway and should be recognised as that.

[mehrdadb]

Why are we even talking about this ?
Seriously ? UAE? A so called county that didn't even exist 60 years ago.

[retfewte]

these islands have always belonged to Iran. UAE is claiming bullshit

[hichic]

The fact that something called UAE has less history than some Iranian carpets tells you all you need to know.
Therefore, we have no discussion about the ownership of these Iranian islands. You better get used to it.

[bigwinter]

UAE wasn't even exist as a country till 1971 but Iran was there as a country for thousands of years. 🤌

[bigdawg]

UAE take the islands by force? LMAO that was the funniest thing i've heard. the Uae cant fight a small militia in Yeman, let alone Iran.

[marklevin]

UAE was only established a few decades ago. 🤣🤣How can it claim those Iranian 🇮🇷 islands?

[Daniel-dbpp]

Not only all the islands in the Persian Gulf were part of Iran, but the entire Persian Gulf southern coast was part of Iran including the newly formed countries of UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait that happened in the 1970s claiming their independence from Iran. Now they are claiming islands in the Persian Gulf.

[kandishm]

The Islands belong to Iran obviously, UAE wasn't even a nation 50 years ago... Iran has been owner of the Islands for centuries and centuries to come

[donya.danesh]

It is clear and characteristic that the islands of Iran do not need a reason, the age of Iran is the most important reason. At the time when Iran was ruling the world, the Emirates did not exist.

[TWOCOWS]

There are TWO SETS of islands and seas that is in dispute between the two countries. You only show and discuss one set. The other is the tree islands of Zerkuh, Das and Arian. The area they cover is half the entire continental shelf of UAE and most of its seas.

[persiancat]

UAE is lucky iran won't take that land back. Bahrain's days are numbered as well.

[donya.danesh]

The Iranian people will not fall short on this issue and will defend with all their might

[elephantguy]

As a priest in the church of algorithm, I bless this video with a comment! Keep up the good work!

[PatriotOfPersia]

1948 Britain Occupied Some Iranian Islands Druing the Anglo Soviet Occupation of Iran and Iran Liberated Those Islands in 1971😂
Funniest thing is that UAE established a few weeks after than liberation of Iranian Islands 😂😂
Queen Elizabeth made UAE only for fun just look at it's funny borders look a kid painted on the map with the ruler 📐

[GregoryRasputin-sdln]

Bahrain and entire UAE is the part of greater Iran

[nimaabdi]

Iranian islands 🇮🇷🇮🇷🇮🇷 one day we will get our Bahrain state back to the mother land “IRAN”