Iran and the Concession in the Persian Gulf

Morteza Aminmansour

Iran and the Concession In Persian Gulf!



There have been, and continue to be, significant territorial disputes between Persian Gulf countries. Important dispute is between the UAE and Iran over ownership of three Iranian islands -- Abu Musa, Greater Tunb Island, and Lesser Tunb Island (Abu Musâ is both the name of a town and an island in the Persian Gulf. Abu Musâ Town, as capital in "Abu Musâ Island Group", southern Iran enjoying hot and humid weather. "Abu Musâ Island Group" is an aggregate of 6 islands. These islands are: Abu Musâ, Greater Farur, Greater Tonb, Lesser Farur , Lesser Tonb ), all strategically located in the Strait of Hormoz .The three islands were owned by Iran. Iran has taken steps to exert unilateral control since 1992, including access restrictions and a military build-up on the island;. and protected against illegal activity from UAE citizen. The Iranian islands were and are an inseparable part of Iran." Iran rejected a 1996 proposal by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (PGCC) for the dispute to be resolved by the International Court of Justice, an option supported by the puppet regime of UAE. On December 31, 2001 and also every year after that on regular bases the Arab regimes in the south of the Persian Gulf region making the same statement against Iran instead of focusing in other direction , which is the US polices on supporting the Israelis regime or Saudi regime which is heavily involved in Iraq and their support to terrorist groups in IRAQ and other area such as financial support for terrorism in Pakistan and groups fighting Iranian in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan(Abdul Malek group) , the PGCC issued a statement reiterating its unjustified support for the undemocratic corrupt regime of UAE'( with political prisoners and trafficking of minor in the sex trade and torturing own people because of political reasons )over three Iranian islands (Abu Musa and the Tunbs), Iran considers UAE's claims on the Iranian islands as "null and void,” which is backed "with all measures...by the undemocratic crucial regime of UAE and its allied such an dictator regime of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman.

Studies on the exploitation of the Arash field, which is jointly owned by Iran and Kuwait, have begun but has not been reached any agreement on the borderline of the oil field. However, there are confirmed reports that Kuwait has started exploitation of the field with the help of American firms.
Iran has strongly criticized Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for their reported activities to develop the Arash oil field they jointly share with Iran, stressing that any measure to that effect must be stopped.. "The activities of these two countries without Iran’s presence is meaningless and must be stopped immediately," Iran said. "Therefore, the Oil Ministry should demand the Foreign Ministry to enter the issue, and prevent any further measure [over the development of the Arash field]."
The Arash field, with an estimated reserve of 754 mm barrels of oil, is located in Iran’s joint territorial waters with southern states of the Persian Gulf and has been a subject of dispute between Iran and Kuwait ever since 1960s. Iran’s preliminary studies over the field three years ago drew Kuwait’s sharp reaction. As relates to the Iranian/Kuwaiti dispute over the status of a Persian Gulf oil field. Iran had conducted study over drilling operations in Arash field until 2001.
The remarks by the Kuwaiti minister a few years ago were surprising and astonishing, since they were made as the two sides were in the process of negotiations; Iran has been involved in a dispute with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia over demarcation of the boundary through the northern Gulf continental shelf.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Moreover recently, on the proposal of Kuwaiti authorities, it was agreed to conduct a seismic survey of the disputed area to demarcate the continental shelf between the two countries." Iran's parliamentary energy committee is reviewing the latest Kuwaiti statements about Arash field, which is adjacent to Dorra field in the Divided Neutral Zone shared by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
It is imperative that our country and other Persian Gulf states build bridges of confidence. Persian Gulf people (Iranian and non Iranian) living in this strategically important region are in the same boat, and they cannot afford to do anything but make the Persian Gulf waters a sea of cooperation and peace.

With this is mind, it must be pointed out that some aspects of the Iranian politics in the region are conducive to defusing tension. In fact, they do not give any rise to doubts and concerns among the Persian Gulf countries (compare to UAE politics), and it shows Iran’s positive impressions toward the region.


References :

Borrus, Amy, "How Big Oil Defies the Great Satan." Business Week, February 13, 1995
Amirahmadi, Hooshang, and Entessar, Nader, Eds. Iran and the Arab World, St Martin's Press: New York, 1993
"Effects of Marine Oil Spills," December 11, 1996, http://www.itopf.com/effects.html
Alexander, Shelley Deane Gould, "Factors in the Settlement of the Dispute Over Abu Musa and the Tombs," M.A. Thesis, The American University, 1979
Caldwell, Dan, "Flashpoints in the Gulf: Abu Musa and the Tunb Islands." Middle East Policy, March 1, 1996,