Iran's IRGC holds military drills at disputed UAE islands

Iran conducted a naval drill on Abu Musa island — disputed with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — on Wednesday, while the country’s oil minister said the country will not relinquish its rights to the likewise disputed Durra gas field, possibly setting the stage for increased tensions with Arab states in the Gulf.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) held a “naval war game” on the island focusing on the defense of Iran’s islands in the Gulf. The exercise featured the use of combat troops, drones, missiles, vessels and electromagnetic warfare, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

The drill also included the Greater and Lesser Tunb islands to the north of Abu Musa, according to the IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.

Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji told reporters on Wednesday that Iran will not cede its rights to the Durra gas field, known as Arash in Iran.

“We will not give up one iota of Iran’s right to make use of the Arash field,” said Owji, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.

Background: Iran seized control over the islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs on Nov. 30, 1971 — just two days before the UAE became a country. The UAE claims sovereignty over the islands, but Iran administers them and defends its claim. 

The Durra gas field is claimed by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, but Iran claims a northern part of the field.

Why it matters: Both disputes have heated up recently. In July, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) issued a statement calling for a “peaceful resolution” of the Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs islands dispute. The statement followed a meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the GCC. Iran summoned the Russian ambassador in response.

Also last month, Kuwaiti Oil Minister Saad Al Barrak said that Kuwait will start drilling at Durra without waiting for a demarcation agreement with Iran. The dispute escalated in late June when the National Iranian Oil Company said it is preparing to drill in the field. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait condemned the news.

The tensions over the islands and the gas field follow improvements in Iran’s relations with Arab Gulf states. Saudi Arabia and Iran resumed relations in March, while the UAE and Kuwait did so last year.