TEHRAN -- A spat between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the sovereignty of three islands in the Persian Gulf is causing Iranian officials to cast doubt on Tehran's alliance with Moscow.
The issue of the islands has long been included in statements by the Gulf Cooperation Council, a political and economic union of six countries on the Arabian Peninsula. But a joint statement issued by the GCC and Russia on July 11 stated: "The ministers affirmed their support for the initiative of UAE to reach a peaceful solution to the issue of the three islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb & Abu Musa, through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice."
