This week, coinciding with the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, a representative of that country once again raised baseless claims regarding the three Iranian islands, asserting that they belong to the UAE and are "under Iranian occupation."
Nasser Asadi, Third Counselor at Iran’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York, responded to the claim by stating: "The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes its firm and complete sovereignty over the islands, which have always been Iranian. These islands have been, are, and will remain an inseparable part of our territory, and we categorically reject any claims to the contrary."
Furthermore, Kazem Gharibabadi, the Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on August 8: "Repeating baseless claims about the Iranian islands—even from the podium of the General Assembly—does not alter reality. Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb are an inseparable part of Iranian territory. Instead of repeating hollow claims, UAE officials should adhere to the requirements of good neighborliness and the region's historical and legal realities."
The UAE, which adopted an unfriendly and hostile stance toward Iran during and after the war, had also previously suspended trade exchanges with Iran. In this regard, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on August 18 that all commercial and financial activities and exchanges with Iran were suspended until further notice.
During this period, reports also emerged regarding secret meetings between Israeli and UAE officials. On July 28, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on several secret meetings held in a third country between Israeli and Emirati officials aimed at coordinating their stances against Iran. The report stated that Emirati officials expressed strong opposition to the "Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding," viewing it as an opportunity for Iran to stall for time and improve its economic situation without offering any genuine concessions in return.
Furthermore, in early September, the website Axios reported on a meeting between Steve Witkoff—a special envoy for Donald Trump—and the UAE’s National Security Advisor, Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on an Italian island; the meeting reportedly focused on "reopening the Strait of Hormuz and increasing economic pressure on Iran."
