UAE and Iran clash anew over sovereignty of three Gulf islands

The UAE and Iran have exchanged accusations over the disputed Gulf islands after Iran's Ali Akbar Velayati criticized Abu Dhabi's UN statement.

• UAE diplomatic advisor Anwar Gargash said his country will resolve the dispute peacefully through direct bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice.
• Gargash described Velayati's criticism of the UAE's UN statement as a political position refuted by facts and documents.
• Velayati called the UAE's claims vain and hollow and said the islands were Iranian and will remain Iranian.
• Iran has controlled Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa since November 30, 1971, while the UAE claims sovereignty over them.