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    Iran summons Chinese envoy for undermining territorial integrity Archived Message

    Posted by Tomski on December 12, 2022, 4:36 pm, in reply to "Matthew Ehret: Xi Jinping's Visit to Saudi Arabia and the overthrow of Atlanticism"

    Well, not all is roses as far as Iran is concerned.

    Iran summons Chinese envoy for undermining territorial integrity

    https://thecradle.co/Article/News/19388

    The three Persian Gulf islands have, for years, been the source of a major dispute between Tehran and Abu Dhabi

    Iran summoned its ambassador to China on 11 December for a meeting to declare its dissatisfaction with a joint statement released by Beijing and the GCC – during the China-Arab States Summit – regarding the Persian Gulf islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa.

    During the meeting, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister condemned the statement, and stressed that the “three Iranian islands of the Persian Gulf are an integral part of the territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which, like any other part of Iran, has never been the subject of negotiations with any country and will never be.”

    The Chinese ambassador stressed China’s respect for Iran’s territorial integrity, but asserted that his country’s foreign policy in the region should be based on “balance” and “diplomatic exchanges.”

    The Persian Gulf islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa have been the center of a longstanding dispute between Iran and the UAE, and Emirati officials have continuously referred to Iran’s presence on the islands as an “occupation.” Iran has, in turn, referred to the UAE’s claim to the islands as “baseless.”

    During the Chinese-Gulf summit – which was launched in Riyadh on 9 December – China and the GCC “affirmed their support for … the initiative and endeavors of the United Arab Emirates to reach a peaceful solution to the issue of the three islands … through bilateral negotiations in accordance with the rules of international law.”

    In a statement via Twitter, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian responded, without mentioning China directly: “The three islands of Abu Musa, Lesser Tunb and Greater Tunb in the Persian Gulf are inseparable parts of the pure land of Iran and belong to this motherland forever. In the necessity of respecting the territorial integrity of Iran, we have no complacency with any side.”

    According to a news article by Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai Al-Aam, issued in 1970, the islands were sold to the Shah of Iran by Sheikh Saqr Bin Sultan al-Qasimi, ruler of the UAE’s northernmost emirate, Ras al-Khaimah. At the time, Ras al-Khaimah was one of the Trucial Sheikhdoms. A year later, Iran seized the islands following the withdrawal of British forces.

    Iranian parliament member Alireza Salimi also condemned China’s joint statement with the GCC in a statement: “The Chinese government should adhere to the Shanghai Treaty; The territorial integrity of Iran is mentioned in clause two of the Shanghai Treaty. I wish the President of China would consult with his advisors and find out what is included in the Shanghai Treaty Statute.”

    Salimi is referring to Article 2 of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Charter, which states that member countries should adhere to “mutual respect of sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity of States and inviolability of State borders,” as well as “non-aggression,” and “non-interference in internal affairs.”

    On the other hand, Iran supports Beijing’s “one-China” policy, to such a degree that there is no Taiwanese embassy in Iran – citizens seeking to travel to Taiwan must obtain visas abroad.





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