The United Arab Emirates (UAE) recalled its ambassador to Tehran Thursday, state news agency WAM reported, after having protested over a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to a disputed island. “The foreign ministry has recalled its ambassador to the Republic of Iran, Saif Mohammed Abid Al-Zaabi, for consultations,” it said. Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahayan Wednesday slammed the visit to the island of Abu Musa as a “'flagrant violation of UAE sovereignty over its territories.” This is a “setback to all efforts and attempts the UAE is making to find a peaceful settlement to Iran's occupation of the three UAE islands,” the foreign minister said. “This visit will not change the legal status of these islands which are part... of the UAE national soil,” the English-language statement said. Sheikh Abdullah, who visited Iran in February, said Ahmadinejad's move and “provocative rhetoric... expose Iran's false allegations regarding its keenness to establish good relations... with the UAE and countries of the region.” Meanwhile, the Arab League and the GCC issued strong statements condemning Ahmadinejad's visit to the disputed island. Dr. Abdullateef Bin Rashed Al-Zayyani, GCC Secretary General, called it an “irresponsible provocation” that goes against the policy of “good neighborliness”, which the GCC states have been adhering to in their dealings with Iran. “This visit is a violation of UAE's sovereignty. It does not change the historical and legal fact of UAE's sovereignty over its three occupied islands – Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Mousa,” Al-Zayyani said. The Arab League expressed its deep concern over the visit, while reiterating that the island belongs to the UAE. “This step is unjustified. It is a clear violation intended to obstruct the efforts toward resolving the dispute peacefully,” the Arab League's statement said.
