Iran criticizes Canadian PM for remarks on Abu Musa and Tunb islands

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday criticized Canadian Prime Minister for what he described as baseless remarks regarding the Iranian islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs. In a post on his X account, Baghaei said that the United Arab Emirates was established in 1971, yet despite the overwhelming historical record, geographical facts and documented evidence concerning Abu Musa and the Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb, it lays claim to these Iranian islands whose history of being part of Iran stretches back many millennia before the establishment of the federation itself.

Baghaei expressed surprise that Canada's Prime Minister has chosen to echo this claim. He noted that Canada, of all countries, must understand the importance of territorial integrity and national sovereignty, as its own history is marked by the American invasion during the War of 1812, the Montreal Annexation Manifesto of 1849, and, more recently, Donald Trump's repeated threats to turn Canada into the 51st state of the United States.

The spokesman questioned how a country that has spent more than two centuries defending its territorial integrity against the ambitions of its southern neighbor can take sides in a fabricated dispute and endorse an unfounded territorial claim that amounts to dangerous adventurism. He asked whether territorial integrity and respect for historical and legal facts are fundamental principles for Canada, or whether they matter only when Canada's own sovereignty is at stake. Baghaei further asked whether Canada realizes that, in doing so, it is effectively sawing off the very branch on which it sits.

The remarks come amid ongoing tensions over the three islands, which Iran has historically claimed. The UAE also claims the islands. Iran has consistently rejected such claims, citing historical and legal evidence. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman's comments highlight Iran's firm stance on preserving its territorial integrity and its criticism of external parties for weighing in on the dispute.

According to Mehr News, Baghaei's post on X late on Friday underscored Iran's position that the islands are an integral part of its territory and that any claims to the contrary are unfounded.