Saudi, Omani FMs to visit Tehran: Iran

03/08/2002| IslamWeb

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and Oman's minister of state for foreign affairs, Yussef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, will visit Tehran this weekend for talks. The disussions would cover boosting bilateral ties as well as "current concerns regarding present issues in the Islamic world including the grim situation of the defenseless Palestinians facing Israel's non-stop attacks", Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said Friday.

Discussions will also focus on "the necessity to use the potential in the Muslim countries to stop Israeli crimes", Asefi, added underlining the need for "preserving and promoting Islamic unity" to confront Isreal.

It wasn't immediately clear if the two Gulf Ministers will take up the dispute between Iran and the Unite Arab Emirates over over three islands in the Arab Gulf, Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs.

The islands, which occupy a strategically important position at the mouth of the Gulf, were occupied by Iran in 1971 after Britain withdrew its forces from the region.

Iran seized the Greater and Lesser Tunbs in 1971 and annexed Abu Musa in 1992.

The three islands dominate the approach to the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the world's oil supply passes.

Iran has insisted on direct talks with the UAE, rather than international arbitration, but rejects the UAE's demand for a fixed time limit.

PHOTO CAPTION

Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Saudi Foreign Minister.