Iran Summons Russian envoy over statement on Persian Gulf disputed islands

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s state media says Tehran has summoned Russia’s charge d’affaires after Moscow and Arab countries released a joint statement earlier this week challenging Iran’s claim to disputed islands in the Persian Gulf. Iran’s official IRNA news agency said Sunday the Russian envoy was summoned the day before and handed a note to deliver to Moscow in which Tehran protested the statement the 6th Arab-Russian Cooperation Forum issued in Morocco that called for a peaceful solution to resolve the conflict between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the islands. The diplomatic spat is a rare occurrence between the two countries that have deepened their ties since Moscow invaded Ukraine, with Iran supplying Russia with killer drones.