Persian Gulf: Small Islands, big politics

Iranian island Abu Musa, an island in the Persian Gulf, is claimed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These two countries for economic, security, and environmental reasons value the island. One significant feature about this island is that it is potentially full of oil reserves. Currently, oil is being extracted from a field close to the shores of Abu Musa. Although there was an agreement between Iran and great Britain in the year 1971 that confirmed the Iranian ownership of the Abu Musa island and also greater and leaser tonb, the dispute over these 3 Iranian island is unresolved due to the claims of UAE over these islands and could ignite an international crisis at some point in the future. In addition to the conflict, there are also environmental concerns that are associated with Abu Musa. If there were to be an oil spill on or around this island it could have grave consequences on the environment and the nearby animal life. Therefore, the dispute over Abu Musa will be examined for its importance in trade, environmental, and security issues in the near future.

Abu Musa gives Iran a base for projecting its power and influence south toward the PGCC. Situated at the mouth of the narrows of the Strait of Hormuz, of the Persian Gulf, through which passes a fifth of the worlds oil supplies.

Iranian island Abu Musa, which is only a few miles square, lies in the Persian Gulf about halfway between Iran and the UAE. However. Abu Musa is full of oil reserves, which fuel the economies of both Iran and the UAE. In addition, the island is located in the Strait of Hormuz, the mouth of the Persian Gulf.

This strategic position could allow a country to influence the Persian Gulf Valuable shipping lane, Abu Musa (called Abu Musa in Arabic by UAE and Jazireh-ye Abu Musa in Persian by Iran) has a population of around 600 people, and is situated at the mouth of the narrows of the Strait of Hormuz.

The largest of these three islands Abu Musa covers an area of 12 sq kms. with a diameter of 5 kms. It is roughly circular in shape. The highest elevation is about 110 meters, obtains toward the northern part of the Island at Halva peak (Jebel Halwa).

The mountains end as rocky cliffs or steep promontories at the north, while at the mouths of the valleys are sandy beaches at the south. Like the other islands in the Persian Gulf enjoys warm and humid climate. The annual precipitation is over 100 mm².

Abu Musa is notable for its golden, sandy beaches and for its authentic natural beauty. In the west and southwest is Abu Musa town, the capital of the island and its most important harbor. Fishing is the major industry on this island.

There are few significant resources on the islands apart from red oxide (coloring pigment) and oil, and only Abu Musa can accommodate large ships.

The island's population was estimated at 800 (2004). The northern sector of the island consists of housing units built for Iranian military personnel and civil service employees who were deployed to the region to protect IRAN against any aggression from Arab countries on the sought side of PERSIAN GULF, and the area is served by electricity, desalinated water, wells, farms, mosques, schools, general services, an infirmary, and a ferry and air link to Bandar Abbas on the Iranian mainland. The population of this sector was less than fifty in the early 1980s, but by the last year of the Iran-Iraq war in 1987 the Iranian military stationed there numbered 700. In 1995 IRAN increased its military presence to 4,000 and deployed a variety of missiles on the island. The airport opened in March 1996. The southern (Sharjah) sector of the island consists of Abu Musa Town; it is linked to the Arabian mainland by boat service. In the 1980s its population peaked at between 850 and 1,000, due mainly to the influx of tourists from the Arabian littoral. The town is served by a number of compounds, an electricity generating plant, and a desalination facility. The island's offshore oil and gas deposit, the Mubarak Field, is an area of 15 sq. mi. located 6 miles (9.6 km) off the eastern shore of the island. According to U.S. sources, its oil output is reported to be a maximum of 35,000 barrels per day.

By the end of November 1971, the conflict over the island reached a pitch. On November 29, Iran and Britain announced an agreement calling for Iran sovereignty over Abu Musa and Iran to station military forces on the island. Oil revenues from the oil fields surrounding the island would be shared by IRAN and Sharjah On November 30, Iran sent military forces to Abu Musa, in accordance with its agreement with Sharjah and took control of the two nearby Iranian islands(lesser and greater Tonb). Iran's Control over its territory ( of these three islands) caused a reaction in the Arab world. Iraq built up its port and naval facilities at Umm Qasr, and the UAE was formed as a federation of five trucial sheikdoms(after signing the agreement between IRAN and Britain , which Iran allowed citizen of Arab state Sharjah to live and stay on Iranian territory). The British are playing a two-sided and mostly anti-Iranian game in these regards. They have already cast doubt on one of the most important sources of Iran's claim by saying that the old map of the British Authorities in India (the map that was formally presented to Iranian officials as the expression of the maritime situation in the region and it showed the three concerned islands in the color of mainland Iran) was not official. Also, they are not ready to give clear explanations about the "package deal" that resulted in Iran's withdrawal of claims over Bahrain and get its soverrgnty back in the three islands. It needs to be mentioned that the agreement between Iran and Britain was signed before UAE was recognized as independent country in other word the UAE even did not exist on the map of Persian Gulf.

In fact the story of Bahrain's independence was a clear indication of the package deal (it was a big mistake of Iranian government at the time to recognize Bahrain and allow its separation from motherland IRAN). For the same reason the UAE's advocates have always tried to deny the existence of the package deal between Iran and the British authorities that led to the independence of Bahrain, UAE and restoration of Iranian rights in the Persian Gulf over the Tunbs and Abu-Musa.

According to Persian Journal Dec 27, 2005 Bahman Aghai Diba: The Arab countries never accepted the rights of the Iranians in any field. The Arabs, including the Palestinians, have never staged a rally or even uttered a word in support of Iranian rights. These are the Arabs that have difficulties for agreeing on the smallest political issue in the world. But they have unity in one point: Iran is like Israel occupier of the Arab lands and she must hand over the concerned territory to the "Arab brothers.” It is very misfortunate and embarrassing for the people of Iran to see that their so-called Islamic government keeps defending the rights of Arabs, tries to expand Arabization in Iran, and tries to persuade the cult of disgusting Arab figures (even in the cost of setting aside the Iranian historical figures that have fought against the Arab control on Iran and have succeeded to stop Iran becoming consumed by the Arab invaders, as it has happened in Egypt and Syria and many other places). At the same time, no Arab country, group, company, sect, or individual has ever taken any action or said a word in defense of the Iranian side. Iran has gone through enough troubles to take its islands back. Iran was instrumental in independence of the UAE, which includes the Sharejeh. The British Government has accepted the package deal tacitly.

There are many historical documents signed by IRANIAN and British Government for proving the rights of Iran over three islands in Persian Gulf. Unfortunately the UAE by raising an unjustifiable claim is creating problems in the Persian Gulf region. UAE instead of pursuing and protecting its security within the context of promoting regional cooperation, through making such claims, which lack historical, geographical and legal basis, is hindering regional cooperation and blaming IRAN for that. By trying to politicize and internationalize its claim, the UAE is in fact upsetting the regional security. Some prominent Arab politicians who have been influenced by the UAE propaganda, have raised questions which prompted IRAN to go to historical and geographical details of the matter in the last few years to prove and present facts and documents rightfulness of Iran's stance over the this issue (Iranian ownership over three islands).

According to Dr. Pirooz Mojtehedzadeh: We should remember that these insulting statements every year by PCCC are signed by foreign ministers of countries which claim to be friends of Iran. There is nothing against Iran-Arab cooperation, rather considering such friendly relations vital for both sides. IRAN should treat them as they treat us. In dealing with those who attack our national prestige and territorial integrity, our silence will motivate them to go as far as making claims over our capital city. Unfortunately, these countries in dealing with Israel have proved that they only bow to force and the problem is that IRAN is not a bullying country.
The latest statement goes against the apparent desire to solve the issue peacefully and through negotiation. Such stances are in the interest of American and other European circles which want to create tension in the Persian Gulf region to justify the continued presence of the their military forces in the Region. Iran does not need to sit on the table to negotiate over its territory and integrity. Iran is a sovergn country. IRAN is not listening to the wish of some puppet countries sought of Persian Gulf. They better take care of own internal and Arab-Israeli problem instead of unjustified claiming over Iranian Islands.

Sources:
Dr. Pirooz Mojtehedzadeh: Iranian island in the Persian gulf
Persian Journal ^ | Dec 27, 2005 | Dr Bahman Aghai Diba:
Iranian Islands in the Persian Gulf and the Arabs
Dan Caldwell, "Flashpoints in the Gulf: Abu Musa and the Tunb Islands." Middle East Policy,
Barry May, "Hormuz choke-point for half world's oil exports

Harold Hough, "Iranian Intentions-The Strait of Hormuz or Beyond?" Jane's Intelligence Review Island Dispute Between Iran and the UAE

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