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 December 1971 concerning the aftermath of UN Security Council debate on Iran's occupation of the islands. It includes reference to:

• Discussion of the issue at the Arab League Council
• HMG's suggestion that Iran show magnanimity towards Ras Al Khaimah
• A meeting between Foreign Secretary Alec Douglas-Home and the Iranian Ambassador in London Amir Khosrow Afshar regarding the islands dispute, a possible state visit by the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Central Treaty Organization (CENTO) exercises, the dangers of Soviet Union naval activity in the Indian Ocean, the Iranian candidate for UN Secretary General Majed Rahnema and the supply of Iranian horses to the British Royal Family
• Discussions between Iran and Sharjah adjusting the delimitation of Abu Musa and a map of the island
• Kuwait's attitude, including a meeting between W H T Luce and the Kuwaiti Minister of Defence Sheikh Sa'ad Al Abdulla Al Sabah and talks between Ambassador A J Wilton and the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah
• The return to Ras Al Khaimah of policemen captured by Iran from the Tunb Islands; and HMG's wish for this to get favourable mention in the British press and the BBC Overseas Service
• Ras Al Khaimah's attempt to obtain financial aid from Libya
• A provisional verbatim record of the 1610th meeting of the UN Security Council on 9 December
• A cutting from Al Nahar Arab Report, 'Sharjah's Title to the Island of Abu Musa', 13 December 1971
• A press conference by the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Ali Khalatbari
• Articles in Sada Al Usbou, Al Jundi, Kayhan International, and Hurriya
• President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan's response to Ras Al Khaimah's application to join the UAE
• Iranian views on oil operations off Abu Musa, including a dispute involving Occidental Petroleum Corporation
• The question of arbitration for the islands dispute
• A proposed financial agreement between Iran and the Rulers of Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

This file also contains:

• A memorandum detailing tactics for Luce's tour of the Gulf in May 1971
• The Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), House of Lords Official Report, 29 November 1971
• An issue of Kayhan International, 4 December 1971.