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28 March 2024

UAE condemns Ahmadinejad's visit to Abu Mousa

Published
By Wam

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday condemned in the strongest possible terms a visit made by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the UAE's island of Abu Mousa, occupied by Iran since 1971.

Sheikh Abdullah blasted the visit as a ''flagrant violation'' of the UAE sovereignty over its territories and a '' setback'' to all efforts and attempts the UAE is making to find a peaceful settlement to Iran's occupation of the three UAE islands -- Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Mousa -- either through direct negotiations or resort to the International Court of Justice.

''This visit will not change the legal status of these islands which are part and parcel of the UAE national soil, '' Sheikh Abdullah emphasised.

He asserted the visit and the provocative rhetoric of the Iranian president expose Iran's false assertions regarding its keenness to establish good relations and friendship with the UAE and countries of the region.

The UAE foreign minister denounced the timing of the visit, saying it comes at a time when the two countries agreed to exert more joint efforts to turn this page by reaching a solution to the issue, and at a time the UAE has committed to what both countries had agreed out of its desire to create a conducive environment for reaching a solution that enhances stability in the region.

The visit, he said, was a gross breach of this agreement.

Sheikh Abdullah called on Iran to take measures and stances that strengthen confidence between countries and peoples of the region and refrain from such provocative measures which muddy relations between the two countries and harm efforts aimed at finding a fair solution to the issue of the occupied three islands.

UAE condemns terrorist attack in Bahrain

The UAE has strongly condemned the terrorist explosion on Monday in the Bahraini village of Al Akr in which seven policemen were injured while on duty.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday :'' The UAE condemns these criminal acts which target stability and security of Bahrain and affirms its solidarity with and support for the leadership, government and people of Bahrain.''