Russia's deputy foreign minister warned Israel that it would be "a catastrophic development" to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, wading in on the conflict between the two archenemies.
The joint statement, issued on Wednesday during the first EU-GCC summit in Brussels, urges Iran to end its control of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, islands claimed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after it gained independence following Britain's withdrawal.
"We call on Iran to end its occupation of the three islands of the United Arab Emirates, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, which constitutes a violation of the sovereignty of the UAE and the principles of the Charter of the UN," the statement read.
Iran quickly dismissed the accusations. Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, took to social media, condemning the joint EU-GCC statement. “The three islands have always belonged to Iran and will forever remain as such. Era of European malign 'divide & rule' interference in our region is long over,” Araghchi posted on X.
Iran asserts that the islands have always been part of its territory, maintaining that it has never relinquished ownership. On the other hand, the UAE contends that the islands were under the control of the Qasimi sheikhs throughout the 19th century, with these rights subsequently passing to the UAE in 1971.
The islands were placed under British control in 1921, but on November 30, 1971, just one day after British forces withdrew and two days before the UAE officially became a federation, Iran's then-monarch, Mohammad Reza Shah, dispatched the Iranian navy to seize control of all three islands. Iranian forces remain stationed there to this day, with Abu Musa being the only island with a civilian population, numbering fewer than two thousand.
Arab nations have frequently voiced support for the UAE's claims, but the EU’s backing of this stance marks a significant shift in European policy. The statement aligns with growing international pressure on Iran with sanctions being imposed globally for its ongoing nuclear program, rights abuses at home and ongoing support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also rejected the EU-GCC claims. “This is a clear indication of the member states' lack of commitment to the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter, especially the principle of respect for national sovereignty and the territorial integrity of states,” Baghaei said.
Tensions over the islands have been exacerbated by international interventions. In June, China supported the UAE’s claims during a meeting with Emirati officials, prompting a rebuke from Tehran. Similarly, Russia’s backing of the UAE in December drew an angry response from Iranian authorities.
The joint EU-GCC statement also emphasized the broader security concerns linked to Iran’s regional actions with its proxies currently engaged in a joint front against Israel as well as enacting a blockade on global shipping.
The statement called for Iran to halt its advancing nuclear program, which has raised alarms over potential weaponization, and demanded a cessation of missile and drone production, citing threats to regional and international peace. "We stress the importance of ensuring the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program," the statement read.
Additionally, the statement underscored the need for Iran to comply with international obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Both the GCC and the EU expressed disappointment over the progress of Iran's nuclear program in the last five years.
“We regret that Iran’s unabated nuclear advances over the last five years have made a return to the JCPOA increasingly difficult,” the statement added, further urging Tehran to pursue regional de-escalation and non-interference in neighboring countries’ internal affairs.
This year, the head of the UN's nuclear program, Rafael Grossi, warned Iran is "weeks not months" away from a nuclear weapon, as Tehran has barred a third of their nuclear inspectors.
"Iranian nation-state actors used ransomware in a cyber-enabled influence operation, marketing stolen Israeli dating website data," Microsoft said.
Following October 7, when Iran-backed Hamas led an attack on Israel, the report cites a marked increase in cyber operations aimed at Israel. From October 7, 2023 to July 2024, "nearly half of the Islamic Republic's cyber operations… targeted Israeli companies", it said.
Iran's cyber efforts are not confined to Israel. The report adds that Iranian and Russian actors are leveraging the ongoing conflicts to spread "divisive and misleading messages through propaganda campaigns" beyond the immediate geographical boundaries of the conflicts.
Microsoft emphasized the continued targeting of the US and Persian Gulf nations, particularly the UAE and Bahrain due to their normalization of ties with Israel.
Cyber defense chief Gaby Portnoy warned in June that since the outbreak of the Gaza war on October 7, cyberattacks by Iran have become more aggressive, targeting not only Israel but also its allies.
“We have identified that Iran is attacking its allies and other countries for information extortion and damaging digital services,” said Portnoy, head of the Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD), at the Cyberweek annual conference held at Tel Aviv University.
Portnoy warned that the information stolen from government systems is then used for Iranian cyberterrorism, making Iranian cyber aggression "an international problem, not only an Israeli one, and therefore the solution needs to be international".
Also in August, Microsoft released its Threat Intelligence Report, which provided a comprehensive analysis of how various groups orchestrated influence campaigns aimed at swaying voters, particularly in swing states.
These operations were complemented by intelligence-gathering activities on political campaigns, potentially establishing a foundation for future interference, it said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov issued the warning on Thursday, according to state news agency TASS, risking bringing Russia further into the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran and its regional proxies.
Following Iran's ballistic missile attack on October 1, speculation is mounting that Israel could target Iran's nuclear, oil, or military facilities, as it has long threatened, although the US has warned that they will not support a strike on nuclear facilities.
Showing the ever deepening ties between Moscow and Tehran, Ryabkov said Russia has "repeatedly warned and continue to warn ... against even hypothetically considering the possibility of a strike on [Iranian] nuclear facilities and nuclear infrastructure".
On Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that the Biden administration believes it has secured assurances from Israel not to target Iranian nuclear or oil facilities.
A day earlier, The Washington Post reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had informed the Biden administration of his willingness to target military sites in Iran rather than nuclear or oil facilities, according to official sources.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted a "very close" alignment of views with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
Iran has provided Russia with drones for its war on Ukraine, resulting in further sanctions for Tehran and the two have increasingly carried out military exercises together. Iran is also building a drone factory in Russia with its close ally.
This month, Tehran was further sanctioned for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia.
Iran and Russia, heavily sanctioned by the West, find themselves increasingly isolated on the global stage. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has made it the most sanctioned nation in the world, surpassing even Iran.
Amid these sanctions, Iran is deepening long-term agreements with strategic partners like China and Russia, in alignment with Supreme Leader Khamenei’s "Looking East" policy.
