'Trio islands are inseparable parts of Iranian soil’: FM Spox

EghtesadOnline: The spokesman made the comment on Wednesday in reaction to a statement that the UAE’s president and Kuwait’s emir issued a day earlier at the end of the latter’s visit to Abu Dhabi. The statement repeated the UAE’s territorial claims over the three Iranian islands, and Kuwait’s claims over the Arash gas field.

Kan'ani dismissed the statement, describing parts of its content as “meddlesome”.

“As we have stressed before the three Persian Gulf islands of Abu Mousa, The Lesser Tunb and The Greater Tunb are inseparable parts of Iranian soil”, he said, adding that repeating claims over the islands lacks any political and legal value, and is regarded as “meddling” in Iran’s internal affairs.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will never consider its territorial integrity as negotiable”, he stressed.

On Kuwait’s claims over the Arash gas field, the Iranian diplomat noted: “We have repeatedly said that making unilateral claims in such statements does not create a right for the claimant.”

Technical and legal negotiations, which have previously taken place between Iran and Kuwait, are the best and suitable path to deal with this issue, Kan'ani added, announcing Iran’s readiness to continue those negotiations within a framework that guarantees respect for common interests.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that a fair agreement over the Arash field can be achieved only through creating a positive and constructive environment and upholding common rights and interests,” the spokesman concluded. / Mehr