On behalf of the Government of the United Arab Emirates, I have the honour to refer to the item on the agenda entitled “Letter dated 3 December 1971 from the Permanent Representatives of Algeria, Iraq, the Libyan Arab Republic and the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council” (S/10409) regarding the occupation by the Islamic Republic of Iran of the three islands of the United Arab Emirates, namely, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.

On instructions from my Government, I should like to strongly protest the opening by the Islamic Republic of Iran on 14 February 2022 of Imam Ali Airport on the island of Greater Tunb, which belongs to the United Arab Emirates and has been occupied by armed force by the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1971.

The United Arab Emirates reiterates that the continued attempt by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to impose an illegitimate fait accompli by force on the island of Greater Tunb, including through its unlawful occupation of the island, constitutes a violation of the sovereignty of the United Arab Emirates over that island. Such actions confer no rights on the Islamic Republic of Iran under the rules of international law, which prohibit the acquisition of territory by force and provide that such acquisition shall not be recognized as a legitimate act.

The United Arab Emirates strongly protests these violations and the continued occupation by the Islamic Republic of Iran of the island of Greater Tunb and the two other islands of Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa. It emphasizes that the continued Iranian occupation and attempts to perpetuate it do not help to advance bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries. Such actions also violate the principles of good neighbourliness and the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.

I should be grateful if you would have the present letter circulated as a document of the Security Council.

Lana Zaki Nusseibeh