In a statement on Thursday, Baqaei denounced the “brazen and interventionist” claims by the United Arab Emirates and Canada concerning the three Iranian islands, which were included in a joint statement issued by the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Canadian prime minister.

“The islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb are inseparable and eternal parts of Iran’s territorial domain, and the repetition of baseless and unfounded claims about them will not change the established geographical, historical and legal realities,” he stated.

Condemning Canada’s deplorable move to echo the UAE government’s territorial claims against Iran, Baqaei said such a move was short-sighted, violated the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and ran counter to international law, particularly given that Canada itself faces territorial claims from the US administration.

He said the move entails international responsibility for the Canadian government.

Baqaei also advised the UAE government to uphold the principle of good neighborliness instead of repeatedly making futile territorial claims against a large neighboring country.