Wed Nov 13 07:17:33 UTC 2024: ## Iran Cites 19th-Century Map in Dispute with UAE Over Gulf Islands
**DUBAI** – Iran has escalated its dispute with the United Arab Emirates over three strategically important islands in the Persian Gulf, citing a 19th-century British map as evidence of Iranian ownership.
The islands in question, Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, are located at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for oil tankers transporting around 20% of the world’s oil and 25% of its liquefied natural gas. While these islands are largely barren, their strategic location has made them a point of contention between Iran and the UAE for decades.
Iran seized control of the islands in 1971 after the British withdrawal. The UAE claims ownership, with the Emirate of Sharjah claiming Abu Musa and the Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah claiming the other two.
To bolster its claim, Iran has presented a map dated July 27, 1888, given to Iran’s Shah Naser al-Din Shah Qajar by the UK ambassador Henry Drummond Wolff. The map, now in the possession of the Islamic Republic, allegedly shows the islands as belonging to Iran. Iran also cites an 1892 book, “Persia and the Persian Question,” by former British Viceroy of India George Curzon, as further evidence.
The dispute has intensified following a joint statement last month from the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council condemning Iran’s “occupation” of the islands.
Despite the lack of significant natural resources on the islands, their strategic location has sparked a tense relationship between Iran and the UAE. For nearly two decades, the two countries shared Abu Musa’s offshore oil revenues under an uneasy interim agreement. However, after negotiations to resolve the dispute collapsed in 1992, Iran strengthened its military presence on the islands.
The latest escalation in the long-standing dispute raises concerns about potential regional instability in a region already facing numerous challenges.
First Piper 