Iran lodges protest with China about sovereignty issue

In a rare move that can cast a shadow on Tehran-Beijing ties, Iran's foreign ministry has summoned the Chinese ambassador in Tehran to protest about a China-UAE statement related to Iran's sovereignty over three Islands also claimed by the UAE.

During Sunday's meeting with the Chinese ambassador in Tehran, Mohammad AliBek, an aide to the foreign minister and the director general of the Iranian Foreign Ministry's Persian Gulf Department, recalled the special ties between the two sides and noted that respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries is one of the renowned and fundamental principles in international relations.

AliBek also stressed that the three Iranian islands in the Persian Gulf belong to Iran, and Iran rejects any claim from any side in that regard.

Considering the strategic cooperation between Iran and China, the Iranian official demanded that the Chinese government is expected to correct its position on this issue.

The islands -- Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunb -- are claimed by both countries but have been held by Iran since 1971, shortly before the UAE gained full independence from Britain. The issue is extremely politically sensitive for Iran notwithstanding its good ties with the UAE, according to West Asia experts.

China remains one of the biggest trade partners for Iran which faces sanctions across sectors. China has also assured to invest big in Iran.

Meanwhile, notwithstanding President Vladimir Putin's China trip, fissures have also emerged in China's ties with Russia over a mega gas pipeline that will supply Russian gas to China.

Russia's plans to conclude a major gas pipeline deal with China have faced obstacles over what Moscow views as Beijing's unreasonable demands on price. China is demanding a price that is akin to Russia's subsidised price for its own citizens.