Abu Musa Explained

Disputed:No
Abu Musa
Pushpin Map:Iran#Persian Gulf#UAE
Location:Persian Gulf
Coordinates:25.8667°N 57°W
Total Islands:1
Area Km2:12.8
Elevation M:110
Highest Mount:Mount Halva
Country Admin Divisions Title:Province
Country Admin Divisions:Hormozgan
Country Largest City:Abu Musa
Country Largest City Population:1,953
Population:2,131
Population As Of:2012
Density Km2:166
Qid:Q33412878
Mapframe-Zoom:8
Construction:Masonry Tower
Shape:square short tower atop building[1] [2]

Abu Musa (Persian: بوموسا, in Persian pronounced as /æbu mu'sɒ/, Arabic: أبو موسى) is a 12.8km2 island in the eastern Persian Gulf near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.[3] Due to the depth of sea, oil tankers and big ships have to pass between Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs; this makes these islands some of the most strategic points in the Persian Gulf.[4] The island is administered by Iran as part of its province of Hormozgan.[5] [6]

Name

Iranian inhabitants of Abu Musa call it "Gap-sabzu" (Persian: گپ‌سبزو), which in Persian means "the great green place". On old Persian maps, the island is called:

In recent centuries it has also been called Bum Musa, Persian for "the land of Musa/Moses", instead of "Boum-Sou".[8]

In Arabic sources, "Abu Musa" (Arabic: أبو موسى) comes from Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, a companion of Muhammad, who stayed on the island in 643 CE before battling the Persians.[9] [10]

Geography

Abu Musa island is located south of Bandar-e Shenas and north-northwest of Sharjah. Out of 14 islands of Hormozgan it is the island farthest from the Iranian coast. Its highest point is the 110m (360feet) Mount Halva.[11] Abu Musa city is the center of the island. The weather in Abu Musa is warm and humid, although, compared to the place in the Persian Gulf, Abu Musa has a better climate and the most diverse ecosystem, but it lacks suitable soil and water for farming. Fishing is the main industry for the locals.

It is served by the regional Abu Musa Airport.

History

The sovereignty of Iran on Abu Musa has been disputed by UAE, which inherited the dispute in 1971.[12] [13] By common consent, the island had been under the control of the Al-Qasimi ruler of Sharjah.[14] In 1906 Salim bin Sultan, the uncle of Sharjah's ruler Saqr bin Khalid, awarded a concession for the iron oxide deposits of Abu Musa to three Arabs, whose workers extracted the mineral and agreed to sell it to Wonckhaus, a German enterprise. However, when Saqr bin Khalid discovered this, he cancelled the concession and the workers were removed from the island with assistance from the British, resulting in an international incident.[15] [16]

After 1908, the UK controlled the island along with the other British-held islands in the Persian Gulf, including what is today the UAE. In the late 1960s, the UK transferred administration of the island to the British-appointed Sharjah, one of the seven sheikdoms that would later form the UAE.

After the UK announced in 1968 that it would end its administrative and military positions in the Persian Gulf, Iran moved to reattach the island politically to the mainland. On 30 November 1971 (two days before the official establishment of UAE), Iran and Sharjah signed a Memorandum of Understanding. They agreed to allow Sharjah to have a local police station and Iran to station troops on the island according to the map attached to the Memorandum of Understanding.[17] The agreement also divided the island's energy resources between the two signatories. "By agreeing to the pact, the tiny emirate prevented an invasion by Iran, which two days earlier had taken two other disputed islands, the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, which were even smaller and uninhabited."[18]

Iranian takeover

On 30 November 1971, a day before the UK officially left the region, Iran moved troops onto the island and were officially welcomed by the Sheik of Sharjah's brother, Sheik Saqer.[19]

UAE claim

The UAE took its sovereignty claim over Abu Musa and the two Tunb islands to a meeting of the United Nations Security Council of 9 December 1971. At that meeting, it was decided to "defer consideration of this matter to a later date".[20] [21] Iraq (Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr era),[22] Kuwait,[23] Algeria,[24] South Yemen and Libya held the view that the territory rightfully belongs to the UAE.[25] [26] [27] [28] [29] Since that time, the UAE has consistently called in public statements[30] for either bilateral negotiations or by referring the issue to the International Court of Justice (or another form of international arbitration).[31]

Saddam Hussein attempted to justify the Iran–Iraq War by claiming that one of the objectives was to "liberate" Abu Musa and the Tunbs in the Persian Gulf. In 1992, Iran expelled "foreign" workers who operated the UAE-sponsored school, medical clinic, and power-generating station.[32] The dispute has also caused serious friction between Ras al-Khaimah and Sharjah on the one hand and some other emirates of the UAE on the other. Ras Al Khaimah advocates tough measures against Iran. Dubai, on the other hand, believes that the conflict is unnecessary. The present ruler of Dubai (who is also Vice President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the UAE), Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has earlier stated publicly that "he believes the tensions over the islands have been fabricated by the United States".[33]

In 2012 a visit to the island by Iranian president Ahmedinejad provoked a diplomatic incident.[34] Iran's historical claim to ownership over the islands roots back to the Parthian and Sasanian Empires, among others.[35] Iran considers the island to have been occupied by the UK and refers to the agreement between Iran and the emirate of Sharjah in 1971.

Demographics

, the island had about 2,131 inhabitants, making it Iran's smallest county.[36] The city of Abu Musa had 1,953 inhabitants in 2012, up 248 from 2006.[37]

Most of the residents of the island speak the "Bandari" dialect of Persian.

Native UAE citizens living on the island allegedly face "great difficulties" with the lack of proper clinics and schools. Only one school exists on the island,[38] and it is used by 150 students.[39] Moreover, patients have to be transported to Sharjah to receive treatment, but that is sometimes not feasible because of the Iranian authorities. In addition, Iran allegedly delays or blocks UAE's school and medical supplies from entering the island.

Climate

The island’s climate is hot and arid. Classified as BWh under Köppen climate classification. The Island has warm to hot weather throughout the year, with all months averaging above 20C, almost all of the annual precipitation falls during the winter season.

See also

Sources

Further reading

External links

25.8667°N 57°W

Notes and References

  1. 2016-10-03.
  2. http://msi.nga.mil/NGAPortal/MSI.portal?_nfpb=true&_st=&_pageLabel=msi_pub_detail&CCD_itemID=112&pubConstant=NGALOL NGA List of Lights – Pub.112
  3. http://www.iranian.ws/cgi-bin/iran_news/exec/view.cgi/2/2358 Iranian Islands of Tunbs and Abu Musa
  4. Book: Ewan W. Anderson . Gareth Owen . An atlas of world political flashpoints: a sourcebook of geopolitical crisis . 1993 . Pinter Reference . 978-1-85567-053-2 . 1 . 19 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160530102318/https://books.google.com/books?id=T7R-AAAAMAAJ . 30 May 2016 . live.
  5. Book: Fred M. Shelley . Nation Shapes: The Story Behind the World's Borders . 30 April 2013 . ABC-CLIO . 978-1-61069-106-2 . 457– . 19 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160530094947/https://books.google.com/books?id=5qlXatHRJtMC&pg=PA457 . 30 May 2016 . live.
  6. Book: Ibrahim Abed . Peter Hellyer . United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective . 2001 . Trident Press Ltd . 978-1-900724-47-0 . 182– . Iran claims Abu Musa Territorial and political ambitions, combined with the economic interests of influential elements within the government, helped strengthen the first Iranian claim to the island of Abu Musa in 1904. Iran began to challenge ... . https://web.archive.org/web/20160530094305/https://books.google.com/books?id=QcMz3zV0qAMC&pg=PA182 . 30 May 2016 . live.
  7. Web site: Ajam, Muḥammad. "Documents on the Persian Gulf's name: The eternal heritage of ancient time". Tehran: Evin Publication, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20120911145741/http://0-dla.library.upenn.edu.librus.hccs.edu/dla/newbooks/record.html?id=NEWBOOKS_4974631. dead. 11 September 2012.
  8. Web site: اسناد نام خلیج‌ [فارس]؛ میراثی کهن و جاودان]. opac.nlai.ir. 22 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140407102050/http://opac.nlai.ir/opac-prod/bibliographic/1924051. 7 April 2014. live.
  9. News: النظام الإيراني المحتل يمارس الغطرسة ضد سكان الجزر الإماراتية. 11 July 2017. Al Riyadh. 17360. 4 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20170731071529/http://www.alriyadh.com/1116041. 31 July 2017. dead.
  10. Book: سيستاني. ايرج افشار. جزيرة بوموسى وطنب بزرك وطنب كوجك.
  11. Book: Pirouz Mojtahed-Zadeh . Boundary Politics and International Boundaries of Iran: A Study of the Origin, Evolution, and Implications of the Boundaries of Modern Iran with Its 1 . January 2007 . Universal-Publishers . 978-1-58112-933-5 . 305– . 19 February 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160530150216/https://books.google.com/books?id=9o0IRPpvDjkC&pg=PA305 . 30 May 2016 . live.
  12. News: Abu Musa and The Tumbs: The Dispute That Won't Go Away, Part Two . 24 July 2001 . The Estimate . XIII . 13 . 6 January 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071215021736/http://www.theestimate.com/public/072401.html . 15 December 2007 . unfit.
  13. Web site: Henderson . Simon . Unwanted Guest: The Gulf Summit and Iran . 7 December 2007 . 23 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210123084614/https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/unwanted-guest-gulf-summit-and-iran . 23 January 2021 . live.
  14. Book: Ahmadi, Kourosh . Islands and International Politics in the Persian Gulf: The Abu Musa and Tunbs in Strategic Context . 2008 . Routledge . 978-0-415-45933-4 . 54.
  15. Book: Issawi, Charles . Charles Issawi . European Economic Penetration, 1872–1921 . Avery . Peter . Peter Avery . Hambly . Gavin . Melville . Charles . Charles P. Melville . . 1991 . Cambridge University Press . 978-0-521-20095-0 . 605.
  16. Web site: Red oxide on Abu Musa, 1898-1934 . Laithwaite . John Gilbert . Gilbert Laithwaite . 1934 . British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers . IOR/L/PS/18/B433 . Qatar Digital Library.
  17. Book: Mojtahedzadeh , Pirouz . Countries and boundaries in the geopolitical region of the Persian Gulf. 1993. The Institute for Political and International Studies. 651081387. fa.
  18. News: A Tiny Island Is Where Iran Makes a Stand. Thomas. Erdbrink. The New York Times. 30 April 2012. 26 February 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170505153853/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/world/middleeast/dispute-over-island-of-abu-musa-unites-iran.html. 5 May 2017. live.
  19. Book: Mojtahedzadeh , Pirouz . Security and territoriality in the Persian Gulf. 1999. RoutledgeCurzon. London. 0-7007-1098-1. 214.
  20. Book: Mattair , Thomas . The Three Occupied Islands of the UAE: The Tunbs and Abu Musa.. 2005. Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. Abu Dhabi. 9948-00-765-4.
  21. United Nations. Twenty-sixth Year, Supplement for October, November and December 1971. Official Records of the Security Council. 1971. 13 March 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140220221825/http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AUN_DOC_S_PV_1610_Security_Council_official_records%2C_26th_year%2C_1610th_meeting%2C_9_December_1971.djvu. 20 February 2014. live.
  22. Book: United Nations Security Council . Letter dated 72/07/17 from the representatives of Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, the Libyan Arab Republic, Morocco, Oman, the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, Sudan, The Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen to the President of the Security Council . 1972 . United Nations Supplement, Official Record . New York . UNDOC:S/10740 . 13 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140609074929/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/UN_Doc_S_10740_-_Letter_Dated_17_July_1972_from_the_Permanent_Representatives_of_Algeria_Bahrain_Egypt_Iraq_Kuwait_Lebanon_Libya_Morocco_Oman_Sudan_Syria_Tunisia_United_Arab_Emirates_Yemen.pdf . 9 June 2014 . live.
  23. Book: United Nations Security Council . Letter dated 92/09/14 from the Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General . 1992 . United Nations Annexes, Official Record . New York . UNDOC: A/47/441 . 13 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140220221823/http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALetter_dated_1994_July_7_from_the_Permanent_Representative_of_Kuwait_to_the_United_Nations_addressed_to_the_President_of_the_Security_Council.djvu . 20 February 2014 . dead . dmy-all.
  24. Book: United Nations Security Council . Letter dated 71/12/03 from the representatives of Algeria, Iraq, the Libyan Arab Republic and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen to the President of the Security Council . 1971 . United Nations Supplement, Official Record . New York . UNDOC:S/10409 . 13 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140609074934/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/26/UN_DOC_S_10409_-_Letter_Dated_3_December_1971_from_the_Permanent_Representatives_of_Algeria_Iraq_Libya_And_Peoples_Democratic_Republic_of_Yemen.JPG . 9 June 2014 . live.
  25. Book: United Nations Security Council . Letter dated 94/12/22 from the Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General . December 1994 . United Nations Annexes, Official Record . New York . UNDOC: A/49/815 . 13 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140609074930/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/UN_DOC_A_49_814_Letter_dated_1994_December_22_from_the_Permanent_Representative_of_Bahrain_to_the_United_Nations_addressed_to_the_Secretary-General.pdf . 9 June 2014 . live.
  26. Book: United Nations Security Council . Letter dated 93/10/13 from the representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the General Assembly . 1993 . United Nations Annexes, Official Record . New York . UNDOC: A/48/519 . 13 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140609074931/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/UN_DOC_A_48_519_Letter_dated_13_October_1993_from_Saudi_Arabia_to_the_UN_page1.JPG . 9 June 2014 . live.
  27. Book: United Nations Security Council . Letter dated 94/09/20 from the Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General . September 1994 . United Nations Annexes, Official Record . New York . UN DOC: A/49/412 S/1994/1078 . 13 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140609074932/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/UN_DOC_A_49_412_S_1994_1078_Letter_dated_20_September_1994_from_Saudi_Arabia_to_the_UN.pdf . 9 June 2014 . live.
  28. Book: United Nations Security Council . Letter dated 95/06/21 from the Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General . June 1995 . United Nations Annexes, Official Record . New York . 13 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140609074925/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/82/UN_DOC_A_50_255_S_1995_504_Letter_dated_21_June_1995_from_Bahrain_to_the_United_Nations.pdf . 9 June 2014 . live.
  29. Book: United Nations Security Council . Letter dated 92/10/06 from the Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations addressed to the President of the General Assembly . October 1992 . United Nations Annexes, Official Record . New York . UNDOC: A/47/516 . 13 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140609074927/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/UN_DOC_A_47_516_Letter_dated_1992_October_6_from_the_Permanent_Representative_of_Oman_to_the_United_Nations_addressed_to_the_President_of_the_General_Assembly..pdf . 9 June 2014 . live.
  30. United Nations . Letter dated 16 September 1997 from the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General . United Nations General Assembly . 17 September 1997 . 52nd Session . Oceans and the Law of the Sea . 13 March 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140609074926/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/UN_DOC_A_52_361_Letter_dated_1997_September_16_from_the_Permanent_Representative_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates_to_the_United_Nations_addressed_to_the_Secretary-General..pdf . 9 June 2014 . live.
  31. Book: Mattair , Thomas . The Three Occupied Islands of the UAE: The Tunbs and Abu Musa.. 2005. Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research. Abu Dhabi. 9948-00-765-4. 165–166.
  32. Web site: Abu Musa Island – Iran Special Weapons Facilities. John. Pike. globalsecurity.org. 31 July 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20101226021747/http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/iran/abu-musa.htm. 26 December 2010. live.
  33. Book: Rubin , Barry M. . Crises in the Contemporary Persian Gulf. 2002. Routledge. 978-0-7146-5267-2. 44–45.
  34. Web site: Ahmadinejad's visit to island prompts UAE to recall Iran ambassador. CNN. 12 April 2012. 12 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120412175353/http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/12/world/meast/uae-iran-ambassador-recall/. 12 April 2012. live.
  35. Web site: Fars Library. https://archive.today/20120711215142/http://namak.farsnews.ir/newstext.aspx?nn=9001141115. dead. 11 July 2012. 19 April 2012.
  36. Web site: Archived copy. 22 June 2011.
  37. Web site: Archived copy. 27 January 2010.
  38. News: الأمير . نورا . "التربية" تفتح باب نقل المعلمين إلى مدرسة أبو موسى . 2 January 2019 . Al Bayan . 2 February 2017 . ar . https://web.archive.org/web/20190103005152/https://www.albayan.ae/across-the-uae/education/2017-02-02-1.2845589 . 3 January 2019 . live .
  39. News: Ashor. Ahmed. إماراتيّون في "أبوموسى" يعيشون حياة بدائية تحت الاحتلال. Emiratis in Abu Musa live a primitive life under occupation. 7 July 2017. ar. Emarat Al Youm. 22 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20180801221001/https://www.emaratalyoum.com/local-section/other/2010-04-22-1.231277. 1 August 2018. dead.

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