Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman has strongly condemned a joint statement by the United Arab Emirates and Canada over three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf, warning that they will not alter established historical and legal realities.

Esmail Baghaei strongly condemned the brazen and interventionist claims made by the UAE and Canada regarding the Iranian islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb in a joint statement issued by Abu Dhabi’s crown prince and the Canadian prime minister.

In a joint statement released on Tuesday, the two countries called for an end to what they described as the occupation of the three islands which, they alleged, constitutes a violation of the sovereignty of the UAE and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

Baghaei said, “The islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb are inseparable and eternal parts of Iran’s territory,” adding that “the repetition of illusory and baseless claims about them will not change the established geographical, historical and legal realities.”

Baghaei further condemned Canada’s move to align itself with the UAE government in advancing territorial claims against Iran.

“Such an action by Canada—which itself faces territorial claims from the US administration—is short-sighted, violates the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and runs counter to international law,” he said.

He warned that the move will entail “international responsibility for the Canadian government.”

Baghaei advised the UAE government to “adhere to the principle of good neighborliness instead of repeatedly making futile territorial claims against a major neighboring country.”

Iran’s ‘unsinkable carriers’: How Persian Gulf trio islands shape deterrence in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s strategic islands – Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb, and Sirri – function as “unsinkable carriers” anchoring layered defenses, a role aptly demonstrated in the 2025 Shahid Mohammad Nazeri exercise, underscoring Iranian sovereignty and red‑line enforcement.

The Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world. However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly baseless laid claim to the islands.

The islands fell under British control in 1921, but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Iran’s sovereignty over the islands was restored.