UAE and Canada call three islands occupied; Iran rejects the claim.
Canada backs the UAE's claim to Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs. Iran rejects the claim, while the UAE advocates negotiations or referral to the International Court of Justice.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan called for an end to what they described as the occupation of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb. Their October 28, 2026 joint statement said the situation violated UAE sovereignty and principles of the UN Charter.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected that position, asserting that the islands belong to Iran and criticizing Canada for endorsing the UAE claim. The UAE has also called for a peaceful settlement through direct negotiations or referral to the International Court of Justice.
Read the full background
This case tracks the October exchange over competing sovereignty claims, with the UAE's January proposal as background. The January ministry statement (opens in a new tab) attributes the proposal for negotiations or referral to the International Court of Justice to UAE Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar.
People in this case
Mark CarneyDirectly involved
Esmaeil BaghaeiDirectly involved
Timeline
2 timeline entries on this page. Dates: January 31, 2026 to October 28, 2026
January 2026
UAE reiterates negotiation and ICJ proposal.
The ministry reports Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar's call for a peaceful settlement through direct negotiations with Iran or referral to the International Court of Justice.
[01]UAE minister sets out negotiation and ICJ proposal for the three islands
The ministry reports the UAE's call for direct negotiations or referral to the International Court of Justice. It does not announce a court case.
UAE minister sets out negotiation and ICJ proposal for the three islandsKhalifa Shaheen Al Marar's remarks on the three islands
October 2026
Canada-UAE joint statement backs UAE sovereignty claim.
Source release
The statement by Carney and Sheikh Khaled calls for an end to what they describe as the occupation of the three islands.
[02]Canada-UAE joint statement following Sheikh Khaled's Ottawa visit
The joint statement attributes the three islands to the UAE and describes their occupation as a sovereignty violation. These are the signatories' positions.
Canada-UAE joint statement following Sheikh Khaled's Ottawa visitSovereignty and International Law
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
The occupation of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb violates UAE sovereignty and principles of the UN Charter.
What is disputed
Carney and Sheikh Khaled make this claim jointly. Baghaei rejects the UAE's title and asserts Iranian sovereignty.
Sources (2)
- Canada-UAE joint statement following Sheikh Khaled's Ottawa visitSovereignty and International Law
- Esmaeil Baghaei rejects the Canada-UAE islands statementPost 2116326264071971136
Arguments
Documented position
Canada-UAE October joint statement and the UAE ministry's January account of Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar's remarks.
The UAE and Canada call the occupation a sovereignty violation.
Carney and Sheikh Khaled jointly call the three islands UAE territory and describe their occupation as a sovereignty violation. In the separate January ministry statement, UAE Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar proposes direct negotiations or referral to the International Court of Justice.
Limit of this argument
Iran rejects the UAE claim. The statements do not record a judicial determination of title.
Read sources
Sources
- Canada-UAE joint statement following Sheikh Khaled's Ottawa visitSovereignty and International Law
- UAE minister sets out negotiation and ICJ proposal for the three islandsKhalifa Shaheen Al Marar's remarks on the three islands
- Esmaeil Baghaei rejects the Canada-UAE islands statementPost 2116326264071971136
Documented position
Esmaeil Baghaei's October 30, 2026 post (October 31 UTC), as Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson.
Iran claims longstanding sovereignty over the islands.
Baghaei calls the islands Iranian territory, invokes a long historical connection and challenges Canada's consistency on territorial integrity.
Limit of this argument
The post asserts historical title but does not itself supply the historical instruments needed to evaluate competing claims.
Read sources
Sources
- Esmaeil Baghaei rejects the Canada-UAE islands statementPost 2116326264071971136
- Canada-UAE joint statement following Sheikh Khaled's Ottawa visitSovereignty and International Law
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
2 responses. Newest first.
Esmaeil BaghaeiIranian foreign ministry spokespersonDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Baghaei opens by noting that the UAE federation was established in 1971.
"it lays claim to these IRANIAN islands whose history of being part of IRAN stretches back many millennia"
Defended or excusedCase context: UAE and Canada call three islands occupied; Iran rejects the claim.
Full statement and sources
Esmaeil Baghaei defends Iran's sovereignty claim to the three islands.
After the statement
He challenges Canada's consistency on territorial integrity and rejects the UAE claim.
Esmaeil Baghaei rejects the Canada-UAE islands statementPost 2116326264071971136Why this label?
He expressly asserts Iranian ownership and rejects the demand underlying criticism of Iran's control.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Mark CarneyCanadian prime minister, jointly with the crown prince of Abu DhabiDirectly involvedBefore this statement
The statement follows Sheikh Khaled's October 26-27 visit to Ottawa and covers a wider bilateral partnership.
"they called for an end to the occupation of the three islands of the UAE"
CondemnedCase context: UAE and Canada call three islands occupied; Iran rejects the claim.
Full statement and sources
Mark Carney and Sheikh Khaled jointly call for an end to what they describe as the occupation of UAE territory.
After the statement
The joint statement says the occupation violates UAE sovereignty and principles of the UN Charter. Baghaei rejects the UAE claim and asserts Iranian title.
Canada-UAE joint statement following Sheikh Khaled's Ottawa visitSovereignty and International LawEsmaeil Baghaei rejects the Canada-UAE islands statementPost 2116326264071971136Why this label?
The joint statement calls the islands occupied and says this violates UAE sovereignty.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(3)
Official statement
Canada-UAE joint statement following Sheikh Khaled's Ottawa visit
Relevant passage: Sovereignty and International Law
About this source
The joint statement attributes the three islands to the UAE and describes their occupation as a sovereignty violation. These are the signatories' positions.
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Esmaeil Baghaei rejects the Canada-UAE islands statement
About this source
Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson disputes the UAE claim and criticizes Canada's endorsement. The post was published October 30 in Eastern time.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
UAE minister sets out negotiation and ICJ proposal for the three islands
Relevant passage: Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar's remarks on the three islands
About this source
The ministry reports the UAE's call for direct negotiations or referral to the International Court of Justice. It does not announce a court case.
- Published
- Accessed
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Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- UAE and Canada call three islands occupied; Iran rejects the claim.
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/uae-canada-iran-abu-musa-greater-lesser-tunb-islands
The Dispute Index. "UAE and Canada call three islands occupied; Iran rejects the claim.". First published: 2026-11-03. Last updated: 2026-11-03. https://disputeindex.com/cases/uae-canada-iran-abu-musa-greater-lesser-tunb-islands