Bullying is the word to describe allegations by the mullahs’ regime in Iran over the ownership of two UAE islands through all legal and historical grounds since the founding of the UAE on December 2, 1971.
There are several interpretations for this Iranian miserable conduct. The first viewpoint, which I personally consider unlikely, is that the Iranian claim of the two Emirati islands today is a reflection of an internal conflict about the Iranian relationship with the GCC countries, specifically between President Hassan Rouhani and the Revolutionary Guards backed by hard-line clerics. This file has been discussed by parliamentarians close to the Revolutionary Guards commanders. Even last year, allegations were made by Mansour Haghighatpour, a parliamentary figure close to the Revolutionary Guards and an anti-Arab nationalist leader. He previously claimed the Gulf Arab states should know the Emirates occupies the islands of Aryana (or Sir Abu Neir) and Zarkooh (or Zirco) and that “our” silence does not mean that these countries can continue to disrespect Iran. Iranian MP told Mizan agency that the Gulf countries that defend the UAE sovereignty over the three islands must know that the Emirates are occupying two Iranian islands. He also called on President Rouhani to abandon his conciliatory policy toward Saudi Arabia, and resort to the ‘offensive’ policy, refusing any regional reconciliation. Perhaps the purpose of such claims is to prevent any conciliation efforts between President Rouhani and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Revolutionary Guards and Iranian militants oppose Rouhani’s recent steps towards the GCC, which were simply ‘maneuvers’ that did not achieve any breakthrough in the relations. I do not think he can make it happen; presidential powers do not entitle him to achieve the Gulf reconciliation because, in the end, the supreme leader (who turned into a tool for the Revolutionary Guard after the expansion they achieved in Iraq and Syria) has the upper hand.
Another interpretation for the Iranian manipulative policy is that, since President Trump and after strategic partnerships was built between the UK and the UAE, the mullahs fear further exposure to international pressure, a military strike from Israel greenlighted by Trump, or the return of international and regional isolation. The mullahs are also worried about the growing UAE demands to restore its sovereignty over the three occupied islands (Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa). The Iranian allegations seek to draw attention away by fabricating a cause and exporting it to the media and political international arena as a bargaining chip. The Iranian regime thought that bringing the issue of Zarco, the island of economic strategic importance to the economy of the United Arab Emirates (the second largest offshore oil field in the Gulf and fourth globally), will stop the claiming of the three occupied islands.
The last thing the mullahs would want to do is achieving regional security and stability. The conflict-profiteering regime would never think of clearing the atmosphere. Their evasive maneuvers can only bring them further regional isolation. The Iranian miserable system has completely failed to build relations based on mutual respect with any neighboring State. It collided with Turkey, with which the regime had had relationships of interest, before the generals of the Revolutionary Guards played with Turkey’s strategic interests in Syria.
The mullahs are digging their own graves. The Kremlin will offer them as a scapegoat for the re-alignment of interests with Trump administration, and they will no longer have allies. Such systems that belong to the past cannot continue because their very existence is contrary to the realities of the time. They practice regional bullying and spend money on sectarian militias to spread sedition and unrest while millions of young Iranians suffer unemployment, diseases, corruption, poverty and drug abuse. Even the air in the cities of Iran is polluted.
The mullahs should understand that their allegations will not turn attention from occupation. During his speech before the session of the 71 General Assembly of the International Organization, UAE Foreign Minister His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has warned that Iran is still pushing the region to the brink of misfortunes, and that we were right about its miscalculating of the consequences of its aggressive conduct .
Finally, I say to the generals of the Revolutionary Guards: open your eyes, be aware of what you do, and beware, beware of the consequences of your nationalistic arrogance.
