GCC States Baseless Claims Over Iranian Islands, Arash Gas Field
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, at the conclusion of their 46th summit hosted in Bahrain, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued a statement containing repeated allegations concerning the three Iranian islands and the Arash oil field.
The GCC statement reiterated the claim that the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Bu Musa, which are integral parts of Iranian territory, belong to the United Arab Emirates.
The council insisted on its established position, condemning what it described as Iran’s continued occupation of the three islands.
Interfering in Iran’s territorial sovereignty, the GCC asserted the UAE’s right to the three islands, territorial waters, airspace, continental shelf, and exclusive economic zone surrounding the islands.
Dismissing historical evidence of Iran’s sovereignty, the GCC statement deemed any actions, decisions, or activities by Iran on the islands as “null and void,” claiming they would not alter the historical and legal reality that allegedly proves the UAE’s right to the islands.
The GCC also condemned Iran’s designation of a National Persian Gulf Islands Day on the Iranian calendar, corresponding to November 30, expressing outrage over this legitimate action by Iran.
The GCC urged Iran to engage in efforts to resolve the issue through direct negotiations or by referring the case to the International Court of Justice.
Criticizing Iran’s construction projects on the islands, the GCC voiced concern over what it termed “provocative stances and actions” by Iranian officials.
The council condemned Iranian military exercises on the islands and visits by senior Iranian officials.
The GCC also condemned statements by Iranian officials regarding the islands as “hostile and inflammatory” against Abu Dhabi, asserting that such remarks violate the UAE’s sovereignty over its territories.
The council called on Iran to refrain from alleged “provocative” actions and adopt constructive positions to foster trust for reaching a fair solution regarding the three islands.
The GCC expressed gratitude for the European Union’s non-constructive stance regarding the UAE’s claim over the three islands, as reflected in the joint statement of the GCC-EU summit on October 16, 2024, in Brussels and reiterated during the joint meeting of foreign ministers on October 6, 2025.
Regarding the Arash gas field, the GCC claimed it is entirely located within Kuwait’s maritime boundaries and that ownership of natural resources in the shared neutral zone, including the Arash field, belongs solely to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
The GCC rejected any claims by other parties regarding rights in the field or the adjacent shared neutral zone bordering the designated area between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
These claims are being made despite Iran’s repeated emphasis on its historical and legal ownership of the islands and its rights to the Arash gas field.
