Claims of Iran to disputed islands in Persian Gulf

This file is part of a sequence of files relating to Iran's claim to the Tunb Islands, disputed with Ras Al Khaimah, and to Abu Musa, disputed with Sharjah, in the Strait of Hormuz. It contains correspondence and memoranda from October 1971 concerning the search for a solution to this dispute and to the interconnected issue of establishing the Union of Arab Emirates / United Arab Emirates (UAE), including reference to:

• A Defence and Oversea Policy Committee paper containing recommendations on the course to be followed if the Rulers will not accept a negotiated solution to the islands problem
• HMG's consideration of the likely Iraqi reaction if Iran seizes the islands
• A Baghdad Observer cutting, 'A Warning Appropriately Served', 15 October
• A map of Abu Musa
• Meetings between Luce and the Iranian Ambassador in London Amir Khosrow Afshar about proposed settlements for the islands dispute; and a meeting between Afshar and Foreign Secretary Alec Douglas-Home
• The possibility that the UAE will be proclaimed soon in order to gain admittance to the UN during the current session of the UN General Assembly
• The question of oil revenues
• A meeting between the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
• Meetings between Luce, the Political Resident G G Arthur, the Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi and his adviser Northcutt Ely
• Talks between Ambassador R A Beaumont and Egyptian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Riad
• Discussions between the Ruler of Sharjah and the Shah during the 2,500th anniversary celebrations of the Iranian monarchy
• Praise for recent statements by Deputy Chairman of the Iraqi Revolution Command Council Saddam Hussein Al Tikriti, by the Kuwait Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah
• A meeting between Luce and the Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum
• A meeting between Luce, Arthur and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan
• A meeting between Luce and the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi
• Press comment in South Yemen.