An Emirati committee to document Iranian violations: Dimensions and repercussions

In a significant diplomatic and legal move, the United Arab Emirates announced the establishment of a “National Committee for Documenting Iranian Aggression and International Crimes,” representing a strategic shift in its approach to the Iranian issue. This committee, approved by the Cabinet, aims to build a comprehensive legal dossier, supported by evidence and proof, on what the UAE describes as ongoing Iranian “violations,” to be presented to relevant international bodies.

Historical context and political background

This move comes amid historically strained relations between the two countries, despite recent diplomatic efforts to ease tensions. The issue of the three Emirati islands (Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa), occupied by Iran in 1971, remains the cornerstone of the UAE-Iran dispute. The UAE has consistently called for a peaceful resolution to the issue through direct negotiations or by referring the matter to the International Court of Justice, a position rejected by Iran, which considers the islands an integral part of its territory.

In addition to the islands issue, the concerns of the UAE and other Gulf states extend to what they consider Iran’s destabilizing policies in the region, including its nuclear program, its development of ballistic missiles, and its support for armed groups and proxies in Arab countries such as Yemen, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, which Abu Dhabi sees as a direct threat to its national security and the security of international navigation in the Arabian Gulf.

The importance of the decision and its expected impact

The establishment of this committee is of paramount importance on several levels:

• At the local level: The decision reflects the seriousness of the UAE leadership in protecting its sovereignty and national interests, and moves the issue from the political framework only to the international legal framework, giving it additional momentum and strength.
• At the regional level: This move may encourage other Gulf and Arab states with similar grievances against Iran to pursue similar legal avenues, potentially leading to the formation of a unified Arab legal front against Iranian policies.
• At the international level, the UAE, through this committee, seeks to garner international support and provide a solid legal basis that can be used in international organizations such as the United Nations and the International Court of Justice. The systematic and professional documentation of these “crimes” aims to expose Iranian practices to the international community and bring them under the purview of international law.

This move is seen as part of a multifaceted Emirati strategy that combines diplomatic dialogue on the one hand, and firm legal action on the other, to ensure regional stability and protect the state’s sovereign rights in the long term.