Territorial issues relating to the Persian Gulf Islands (Abu Musa and the Tunbs)

This file concerns Iran's dispute over Abu Musa and the Tunb Islands with Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. It contains correspondence relating to:

• Discussions between British officials, the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and other Iranian dignitaries, the Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah Sheikh Saqr Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi and the Ruler of Sharjah Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi
• The Personal Representative of the Foreign Secretary Sir W H T Luce’s shuttle diplomacy and efforts to reach a settlement on the islands and the broader future of the region
• The formation of a union of Gulf States and moves towards the United Arab Emirates
• The importance to Iran of resolving the dispute over the islands before Gulf union
• The impact of the dispute on broader Anglo-Iranian relations, including the future of the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) and British overflight rights in Iranian aerospace
• Reports from Royal Navy patrols around the Tunbs
• The positions of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi
• A background paper on the islands prepared by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Coverage on the dispute in the Arab and Iranian press
• Inquiries into Sharjah's historic ownership of the islands prepared by the London law firm Coward Chance; a memorandum shown by the Ruler of Sharjah to other governments and the detrimental effect on negotiations with the Iranians
• HMG's intelligence gathering on the islands
• Draft Iranian letters to the Rulers of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, offering annual payments and a percentage of oil and gas revenues in exchange for allowing Iranian occupation of the islands without mentioning sovereignty.