Topic summary
Seizure of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs
Imperial State of Iran
Adm.Farajollah Rasaei
Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi
1 killed (UAE claim)
- Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
- Iran crisis of 1946
- Nationalization of the Iranian oil industry
- 1952 uprising
- 1953 coup d'état
- SAVAK
- Great Civilization
- White Revolution
- Iranian Land Reform
- Coronation
- 2,500-year celebration of the Persian Empire
- Seizure of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs
- Rastakhiz Party (Leadership)
- 1975 Algiers Agreement
- State visits
The seizure of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by the Imperial Iranian Navy took place on 30 November 1971, shortly after the withdrawal of British forces from the islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, all located in the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The Imperial State of Iran had claimed sovereignty over both sets of islands, while the Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah claimed the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and the Emirate of Sharjah claimed Abu Musa.
Following the seizure of the islands by Iran, both the emirates of Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah acceded to the newly formed United Arab Emirates, doing so on 2 December 1971 and 10 February 1972, respectively, causing the United Arab Emirates to inherit the territorial dispute with Iran over the islands. As of 2026, the islands remain disputed between the United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
On the ground, Iran has maintained its control over the islands since their seizure in 1971, while the United Arab Emirates has made several attempts through international channels to gain sovereign control of the islands.