News - Middle East: The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy says the West is using the three Iranian islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb, and the Lesser Tunb in the Persian Gulf as an excuse to justify their presence in the region, amid the Israel regime's wars on Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri stressed that the three islands are an inseparable part of Iran, as he was speaking on the sidelines of a Tuesday ceremony commemorating martyred Iranian military advisor Major General Abbas Nilforoushan.

"The three Persian Gulf islands are Iranian islands and we have said many times that they have belonged to ...  Iran since ancient times," Tangsirir said, as he talked about the UAE’s claim to the trio islands.

"The Emiratis should not let the enemies talk about such things and set the region on fire," he added, referring to a joint statement of the European Union and the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) about three Iranian islands.

The IRGC commander further noted that the Westerners seek to play the blame game and that is why they are using the islands "as an excuse to justify their presence in the region" amid the Israeli regime’s ongoing genocide against the innocent and oppressed people in Lebanon and Gaza.

The three Persian Gulf islands of Abu Musa, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs have historically been part of Iran, proof of which can be found and corroborated by countless historical, legal, and geographical documents in Iran and other parts of the world. However, the United Arab Emirates 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.

Iran has, time and again, warned against baseless claims by the UAE about the three islands and the issuance of political statements in collaboration with other parties, saying those statements lack legitimacy and do not undermine the country's legal status or sovereignty over the islands.

Source: Press TV