Close associates of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei have made unprecedented criticism against Moscow over a recent joint Arab-Russian ministerial statement that reiterates a demand on Tehran to peacefully resolve the dispute over the Iran-occupied Emirati islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb.
Issued last week, the statement by Arab foreign ministers and Russian FM Sergei Lavrov called for resolving the dispute through dialogue or international arbitration.
The Iranian foreign ministry filed a complaint to Moscow over the demand, which may undermine the two countries’ “strategic” relations.
Criticism poured in from MPs and media that support Iran’s strategy of turning east, to China and Russia in specific.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said Tehran had protested to Moscow in the “clearest of phrases” and “highest levels.”
Iran will not tolerate any harm that comes to its territorial sovereignty, he added.
Moreover, he deemed the proposals of the Arab-Russian statement to be a “violation of international and the United Nations Charter.”
Khamenei’s foreign policy adviser Ali Akbar Velayati slammed Moscow over the statement.
He lamented the “unfortunate” positions of the Russian foreign ministry, which he said “harm Moscow’s standing.”
He warned that the “strategic relations” that were forged between Russia and Iran “were not easily conceived and the interests of both parties must be taken into account.”
Iran summoned Russia's charge d’affaires over the statement, state media reported Sunday.
Iran's official IRNA news agency said the Russian envoy was summoned on Saturday and handed a note to deliver to Moscow in which Tehran protested the statement the 6th Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum issued in Morocco.
Earlier on Saturday, Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told his Russian counterpart over the phone that “respecting countries’ sovereignty and integrity is among basic principles in the ties between nations,” IRNA said in a separate report.
This marked the second time this year that Iran has called for a Russian envoy in protest over comments on the disputed islands. Tehran summoned the Russian ambassador in July over a similar statement.
The diplomatic spat is a rare occurrence between the two countries that have deepened their ties since Moscow invaded Ukraine, with Iran supplying Russia with killer drones that have been used to devastating effect there. Both countries have also been strong backers of President Bashar Assad in Syria’s war.
