Iranian Canadian Congress asks Carney to retract the occupation wording.
Iranian Canadian CongressIranian Canadian community organization, in a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney
The Iranian Canadian Congress objects to the joint statement's description of the three islands as UAE territories under occupation. It asks the Canadian government to retract that wording and to acknowledge Iran's sovereignty over the islands.
“The ICC strongly objects to the characterization of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb as UAE territories “under occupation”, a statement which undermines Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and risks further unlawful aggression against Iran. The ICC therefore calls upon the Government of Canada to: retract its characterization of the three Iranian islands as occupied UAE territories; issue a correction acknowledging Iran’s longstanding sovereignty over the islands”
Official statement
Where this statement fits
UAE and Canada call three islands occupied; Iran rejects the claim.
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.
Source and context
Official statement
About this source
Letter dated October 31, 2026 from the Iranian Canadian Congress to Prime Minister Mark Carney, published on the organization's website. It responds to the October 28 Canada-UAE joint statement on Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The Iranian Canadian Congress wrote to Carney about the October 28, 2026 joint statement he issued with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. The letter welcomes the joint statement's stated commitment to the UN Charter.
After the quotation
The letter says no International Court of Justice judgment has decided sovereignty over the islands in the UAE's favor and that the UN Security Council has not adopted a binding determination calling Iran's administration an unlawful occupation. It also asks Canada to oppose the use of Persian Gulf territories to facilitate what it calls unlawful military attacks against Iran.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is Iran's control of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, which the Canada-UAE joint statement calls an occupation. The Iranian Canadian Congress defends that control: it objects to the occupation wording and asks Canada to acknowledge Iran's longstanding sovereignty over the islands. Because the letter asserts Iranian sovereignty rather than only disputing the label, it is a defense rather than a challenge to the description.
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- People and groups discussed
- Mark Carney
More from this case
Read the full caseEsmaeil Baghaei defends Iran's sovereignty claim to the three islands.
“it lays claim to these IRANIAN islands whose history of being part of IRAN stretches back many millennia”Read statement
Baghaei says the islands are Iran's and Canada's stance breaches the UN Charter.
“Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb are an inseparable and eternal part of Iran’s territory such an action by Canada—which itself faces territorial claims by the US ruling establishment—is short-sighted, violates the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, and runs counter to international law, entailing the international responsibility of the Canadian government.”Read statement
Carney and Sheikh Khaled call for an end to occupation of Abu Musa and the Tunbs.
“they called for an end to the occupation of the three islands of the UAE”Read statement
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- Iranian Canadian Congress asks Carney to retract the occupation wording.
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The Dispute Index. "Iranian Canadian Congress asks Carney to retract the occupation wording.". First published: 2026-11-13. Last updated: 2026-11-13. https://disputeindex.com/events/8720-the-iranian-canadian-congress-objects-to-the-joint