The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran summoned the Charge d'Affaires of Russia in Tehran in connection with the statement made at the VI session of the Russian-Arab Cooperation Forum (RAFS), held in Marrakech. The forum's statement referred to the ownership of three islands in the Persian Gulf that are the subject of a territorial dispute between Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The foreign ministers of Russia and Arab countries, who took part in the regular session of the RAAF, expressed support for peaceful efforts to achieve a solution to the issue of the islands in accordance with the principles of international law and the UN Charter.
In a note of protest handed to the Charge d'Affair affairs of Russia in Tehran, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled the need to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, which are the basic principles in the system of interstate relations. A representative of the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed Iran's permanent sovereignty over the three islands in the Persian Gulf and rejected the claims of any party in this regard as unacceptable.
The head of the Russian diplomatic mission in Tehran, Alexey Dedov, is outside the country, so his duties are carried out by adviser- Envoy Rafael Gevorgyan. He was summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry to discuss the RAFS statement and the note of protest.