Iran took control of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs islands several decades ago. However, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has consistently claimed sovereignty over these islands, a position supported by Gulf states and Russia.
China expressed support for the UAE’s claim on these islands on Monday, leading to a rare public disagreement between Beijing and Tehran. After Iran summoned the Chinese ambassador over the weekend, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning defended Beijing’s stance, emphasizing that the dispute should be resolved peacefully.
Context: Last week, China hosted Arab leaders, including UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Beijing for the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. The forum featured discussions aimed at strengthening ties between China and the region. Following the forum, the UAE and China issued a joint statement supporting the UAE’s sovereignty over the Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs islands.
“The People’s Republic of China also expressed its support for the efforts of the United Arab Emirates to reach a peaceful solution to the issue of the three islands, the Greater Tunb, the Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, through bilateral negotiations in accordance with the rules of international law and to resolve this issue in accordance with international legitimacy,” stated the declaration published by the official Emirates News Agency.
The islands, situated in the Gulf between Iran and the UAE, were seized by Iran on November 30, 1971, just two days before the UAE was established. Despite Iran’s administration of the islands since then, the UAE maintains its claim of rightful ownership.
In response to the declaration, Iran summoned China’s ambassador in Tehran, Cong Peiwu, and reiterated its stance that the islands are an integral part of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iranian Foreign Ministry official Mohammad AliBek emphasized Iran’s expectation that China would reverse its position, citing the “special and privileged” relationship between the two nations.
China reaffirmed its position on Monday, with Mao Ning stating that the joint statement with the UAE is consistent with China’s longstanding stance on the issue. She urged the concerned parties to resolve their differences through peaceful dialogue and consultation.
Significance: This disagreement is not the first between Iran and the UAE over these islands. In August of the previous year, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps conducted a naval drill on Abu Musa. The following month, an Iranian government foreign policy adviser warned that repeated claims by the UAE could destabilize regional security. Gulf states have long supported the UAE’s claims, creating a point of contention with Iran. However, tensions had somewhat eased following a China-brokered deal that restored relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March 2023.
Russia has also recently supported the UAE’s claim to the islands. In December, the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum backed the UAE, following a call for a peaceful resolution by Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council last July, which led to Iran summoning the Russian ambassador.
Despite this dispute, Iran-China relations remain strong, particularly in the energy sector. Iran’s daily crude oil exports averaged 1.56 million barrels in the first quarter of 2024, nearly all of which were destined for China. Politically, the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited China in February 2023, and the two countries signed a 25-year cooperation agreement in 2021.
While overall relations between China and Iran are friendly, China’s efforts to maintain good relations with Arab states and concerns about Western sanctions on Iran have resulted in “lukewarm economic engagement” between the two nations, as noted by Yun Sun for Al-Monitor last month.
