News - World: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reasserts Moscow's respect for Iran's territorial integrity following the Islamic Republic's criticism of an Arab-Russian statement backing the United Arab Emirates' unfounded claim about three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf.

"Russia cordially, honestly, and unconditionally respects Iran's territorial integrity," the Russian top diplomat said in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Tuesday.

"And this is Moscow's unchangeable position," Lavrov added.

This is not the first time Russia vows respect for Iran's territorial integrity since December 20, when the final statement of the 6th Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum, which was held in Morocco, reiterated the UAE's baseless claims about the three Iranian islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb, and the Lesser Tunb.

On Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian chargé d'affaires to Tehran in protest at the statement, conveying the Islamic Republic's "strong protest" in writing to the Russian envoy over Moscow's repeated support for the "groundless claims" that were included in the statement.

The three Persian Gulf islands have historically been part of Iran, the proof of which can be found in and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world. The UAE, however, has repeatedly laid claim to the islands.

The islands fell under British control in 1921, but on November 30, 1971, a day after British forces left the region and just two days before the UAE was to become an official federation, Iran’s sovereignty over the islands was restored.

Source: Press TV