The History – In 1968, the British announced that they would formally end the protectorate status of the seven emirates of the Trucial Sheikhdoms (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras al-Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm al-Quwain) as well as that of Bahrain and Qatar.

Iran had territorial claim over Bahrain and at the time of the British announcement considered Bahrain one of its provinces (the 14th Province). The Iranian government wanted the British to hand over Bahrain to Iran now that they were ending its protectorate status. Iran was challenging Bahrain’s legal rights to independence.

Bahrain joined Qatar and the seven Trucial Sheikdoms, all the nine still under British protection, to form the Federation of Arab Emirates. The FAE was to become an independent state in 1971, the departure date for the British.

Meanwhile, the British put pressure on Shah of Iran to renounce Iran’s claim over Bahrain. In late 1968, the Iranian and British representatives began to hold secret meetings in Switzerland to find a compromise.

The British proposed that Iran occupy the three islands Abu Moussa, Greater and Lesser Tunbs which had long been claimed by Iran. The Federation of Arab Emirates, with Bahrain and the Trucial Sheikdoms as members, would then accept Iran’s sovereignty over the islands. The shah agreed.

The two sides also agreed to use the good offices of UN Secretary General (U Thant) to facilitate the agreements. UN would later send a “fact-finding” mission to Bahrain and its representative would “determine” that the Bahrainis preferred independence over ties with Iran. This was a face-saving move intended for the shah, who had accepted the lesser prize of the three islands.

In 1971, however, Bahrain (along with Qatar) abandoned the Federation of Arab Emirates and in August of that year declared its independence. The Trucial Sheikdoms became the United Arab Emirates. The UAE, without Bahrain, now questioned shah’s agreement with the British and did not recognize Iranian sovereignty over the islands.

Shah was checkmated. Bahrain was now independent and the UAE was not recognizing Iran’s historical claims over the islands.

Observations - Any agreement by the shah’s government to recognize Bahrain in return for the three islands could be challenged by the sitting government in Tehran. The Bahrain and UAE sides, and their legal protector at the time – the British, did not negotiate in good faith and the results of those negotiations now can be considered null and void.

The question of Bahrain and the three islands were interwoven from the beginning and should be part of a comprehensive settlement with Iran.

Iran's Sovereignty over the Persian Gulf Islands:
Persian Gulf(Abu Musa, greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb).ABU MUSA township is an aggregate of 3 islands and is located in south of HORMOZGAN province 222 km far from BANDAR ABBAS, having hot and humid weather.

Abu Musa is one of the Iran's most southerly island in the Persian Gulf and the second largest in the group, is also among the most beautiful. Abu Musa is notable for its golden, sandy beaches and for its authentic natural beauty. The island is the center of Abu Musa sub-province (one of the six islands in Abu Musa group). ABU MUSA Island was administrated by Iranian like other islands of Pars Sea and was a part of Iranian territory. Between the years 1165-1151 AH Pars Sea and Abu Musa were under the dominance of Elomates. In parthians era and in the time of Mehrdad the first (138-171 BC), Abu Musa was the dominance of this Dynasty.This island was under Kerman Saljoughian rule till 538 AH and was managed by local government of Bani Ghasia. In the reign of Shah Abbas Safavid, Portuguese conquered Abu Musa Island.In 1147 AH Karim Khan Zand rule, over the ports and islands of the Persian Gulf. Agha Mohammad Khan Ghajar ruled over these areas as well.

In the 19th century with entrance of England naval force and her political citizens to the Persian gulf in the pretext of expelling Pirates, preventing Slavery and Safeguarding of India's security. English naval force stopped Iranian military operations in Abu Musa after some times. Abu Musa has been under dominance of Iranian Navy. In April 1993, the Iranian Parliament passed a law extending the limit of its territorial waters to 20 Kilometer (12 miles), reasserting Iran's claim to Abu Musa. Iran's recent move is largely attributed to Tehran's ongoing displeasure with the amount of oil it receives from the Mubarak field.Iran has controlled Abu Musa since 1971 when Britain ended its protectorate of the region. Since then, Iran has rejected any arbitration, claiming the island as part of its territory. The Island harbors a rich supply of untapped oil deposits. Currently, oil is being extracted from a filed close to the shores of Abu Musa. The dispute over the island is unresolved and could ignite an international crisis at some point. In addition to the conflict, there are also environmental concerns that are associated with Abu Musa. The strategic position could allow to influence the Gulf's valuable shipping lane, or even to close the Gulf all together. When Iraq made threatening moves toward Kuwait in October 1994, Iran increased its military presence on Abu Musa (its troops from 700 to 400 in just five months and deployed SA-6 surface –to air missiles, 155- millimeter artillery, and "seersucker" anti-ship missiles. Neither the UAE nor GCC has contemplated an attack on Abu Musa because Iranian fortification would make it too difficult to invade or to hold the island. Not only would an invasion fail, but also Iran could respond by closing the strait of Hormoz to all commerce, including the oil trade. The UAE does not want to disrupt its billion dollar annual export trade with Iran.

All of Iran's oil tanker traffic must pass through this area, making the security of the area very important. Any blockade of this strategic Strait would restrict supplies to consumers in Asia, Europe and US, Japan which gets more than 70% of its oil from the Persian Gulf, and the US, which takes 1.6 million bpd from Middle East states, would be the most sensitive to a blockade. Control of Abu Musa also gives extra protection to BANDAR ABBAS, an Iranian port important for its oil industry and military base. The Tubs are seventeen miles southwest of Iran’s Qeshm Island and forty-six miles NW of the nearest point on the UAE coastline. Greater Tunb is roughly 2.5 miles diameter and at the time a population of approximately 150 People. Lesser Tunb is eight miles to the southwest; Abu Musa is approximately three square miles, with an estimated 800 inhabitants.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) claims on the Iranian Persian Gulf islands of greater Tunb, lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa are illegal and run counter to international law. The Island was officially returned to Iran after 68 years of legal battle by Iran. The Arab Sheikhs are not knowledgeable enough and should know that Abu Musa and other islands (lesser Tunb and greater Tunb) are inseparable parts of Iranian territory. UAE does not have legal claim on Iranian islands. UAE is trying to force the issue by putting political pressure on Iran, but its attempts to refer to international communities will lead nowhere. The ownership claims by the UAE are just adventures and move by the Persian Gulf cooperation Council (PGCC) and British government to support the false claims by the UAE is aimed at creating an unhealthy political climate. Which is both illegal and unethical.

*Historical Situation of greater and lesser Tunbs Abu Musa :
In 1884, it was part of the Persian Gulf ports.
In 1949, together with 29 other islands it was a village under the district of Lengeh,
In 1951, it was part of the village Mazdougi in Lengeh district of the city Lar.
In 1954, it was a village in Abu Musa district of Bandar lengeh port city .
In 1958, Abu Musa and great Tunb districts jointed together and formed a large district with Kish island as its center.
In 1976, it became part of the city of Kish.
In 1982, it became part of the city of Abu Musa.
In 1991, the Great Tunb island was part of the Tunb district of the city of Abu Musa.

The Greater Tunb due to its distance from the Strait of Hormoz has no strategic importance by itself. However, given Iran's strategic situation., it is Considered an important link in the defense line of Iran in the Strait of Hormoz. The Lesser Tunb island is neighboring the city of Lengeh in the north, Abu Musa island in the south, the Greater Tunb island in the east and Faroo and Faroogan islands in the west . The island is rectangular in shape.



Literatures:
*Institute of political and international studies(Persian Gulf).
*Mehdi Azimi (Persian Gulf political History).
*Atefeh Maziyar (Persian Gulf and Iran sovereignty Abu Musa).
*Carmen Gentile Abu Musa oil flares again.
*Tehran times Iranian Islands (May 19, 2004).