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 the United Arab Emirates, and the importance to Iran of first resolving the islands dispute
• The Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah’s decision to send a German film crew to the Tunb Islands to publicise his case
• Coverage of the dispute in the Iranian and Arab press, including the fall-out from an article in Sawt Al Khalij which leaked details of the negotiations
• The positions of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Republic and Libya
• A meeting between the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Joseph Godber and the Secretary-General of the Arab League Abdul Khaleq Hassuna
• A counter-proposal from Sharjah accepting the division of Abu Musa with Iran along a modified boundary with a map
• Growing opposition the Iranian claim to the islands in some parts of the Arab world, Iraqi diplomatic visits to Algeria and Libya and HMG’s suspicion that a bloc is being formed to oppose the transfer of the islands to Iran
• The Shah’s fears of future communist or revolutionary influence in the Gulf and of a pre-emptive Iraqi occupation of the islands with support from the Eastern Bloc
• Negotiations on future oil revenues from the seabed around the islands, involving Umm Al Quwain, Ajman and the Buttes Gas and Oil Company
• A report of an Iranian landing on Abu Musa.