ABSTRACT
In April 1992 the Iranian authorities were reported to have prevented a group of non-nationals from Sharjah from entering Abu Musa Island. These were Pakistani, Indian and Philippino labourers and technicians, and Egyptian teachers. Iran denied that its officials in Abu Musa had expelled UAE nationals and its permanent representative at the United Nations, Kamal Kharrazi, stated at the time that ‘those [varying nationals] who have not lived on the island … have no right to stay there …’ 1 Some interpreted this statement as implying that only Sharjah nationals with proven connections to the island would be allowed to reside there in future. 2 Iran’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Ali-Akbar Velayati, stated at the same time that the 1971 Memorandum of Understanding gave only Sharjah nationals the right to reside on the island. 3
