The rift between Iran and Gulf countries is being heightened by an apparent dispute over whether or not Iran will be invited to an upcoming summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The GCC, which comprises Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates is holding a summit in Oman in December.
Iran claims it has received an invitation to attend the summit by the Qatari leader, but
GCC countries are denying such an invitation was sent to Tehran, according to the London-based A-Sharq Al-Awsat.
An unnamed Gulf official told the paper, “I can confirm that Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, none of them negotiated or agreed on inviting [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadi Nejad to the summit.”
The paper added that it is possible Iran will be invited by Oman, which is hosting and chairing the meeting, without the express consent from other participants.
Analysts say if Ahmadi Nejad does attend, he will likely be given the cold shoulder by other participants, in light of tension between the Shi’ite republic and its Sunni neighbors.
Iran is currently embroiled in a dispute with Gulf countries over the status of three islands which the UAE claims are being occupied. Iran opened two administrative offices on one of these islands, Abu Moussa, two weeks ago.
Abu Mousa is located in the eastern part of the Gulf and spans an area of 12 square kilometers with a population of no more than 500 people.
This move drew criticism from the GCC which described it as a “striking violation and illegitimate action,” since it said Abu Moussa and the other two islands – the largest Tunb and the Lesser Tunb – were an inseparable part of the UAE.
From the UAE perspective, the islands are legally, historically and geographically UAE territory and Iran is occupying the land.
A memorandum of understanding was agreed upon in 1971, which gave the UAE sovereignty but allowed Iran to deploy troops on the island. The UAE says Iran has reneged on this agreement and is encroaching on the land.
The disputed islands are located in the Strait of Hurmuz, a strategic waterway which Iran has threatened to shut down in the event of any attack on Iranian soil, a measure that could jeopardize global oil supplies.
This latest spat between Iran and the surrounding Gulf countries comes at a time of heightened tension between Iran and the West over Tehran’s controversial nuclear program.
Besides the land dispute, Iran’s Sunni neighbors, most of whom are allies of the United States, are also not happy about the prospect of Iran becoming a nuclear power in the region.
Iran is under international pressure to abandon its controversial nuclear program, for fear it is manufacturing a nuclear bomb.
Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes of creating energy.