Iran dismisses Arab League statement over Gulf islands

Iran dismissed a statement by the Arab League (AL) which supports the United Arab Emirates' claim to three islands in the Persian Gulf, local media reported on Thursday. "The three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa have been, and will be, inseparable parts of Iran," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said, reacting to part of the final declaration by the 25th AL Summit held in Kuwait City on March 25-26. The ownership of the three islands by Iran is a "historical fact," Afkham was quoted as saying by Press TV. Iran and the UAE both claim territorial sovereignty over the three islands, and have been at odds over them for decades. The islands are currently under the control of Iran.