Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 8
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
Iran has detained eight United Arab Emirates citizens in charge of crossing into its territorial waters in the Gulf, ISNA news agency reported Oct. 8.
The incident took place earlier in October, when Iranian forces detained a number of fishing boats.
The arrested persons were transferred to Iran's Kish Island, where they are being prosecuted for "violating Iran's territorial waters."
Last June, the Islamic Republic arrested 12 UAE nationals and one Indian who were aboard two boats close to the disputed Abu Musa Island. They were detained on the same charges, and relesed a few days later.
Political relations are strained between Iran and the UAE, mainly due to disputes over the three islands of Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunb.
The islands are controlled by Iran, and claimed by both the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic.
The islands were part of the Trucial States and under British rule but upon independence from Britain in 1971 when the UAE created, Iran took control of the islands.
Edited by: S.I.
Iran arrests 8 UAE citizens
Iran has detained eight United Arab Emirates citizens in charge of crossing into its territorial waters in the Gulf, ISNA news agency reported Oct. 8.
