Iran has formally called the Cypriot ambassador to Tehran. This happened because of a statement between Cyprus and the United Arab Emirates. The statement seemed to agree that the UAE owns three important islands. Iran has controlled these islands for a long time. This has made the old argument about who owns the islands stronger.
The disagreement started after a joint statement on Sunday, December 14, 2025. The UAE President visited Cyprus then. In their statement, Cyprus said it supports the UAE's claim to the islands. These islands are Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb. Iran has held these islands since 1971. Iran was not happy and called the ambassador on Tuesday.
Iran's Assistant Foreign Minister gave a letter to the ambassador. He said Iran has always owned these islands. He called them a very important part of Iran. He said other countries should not claim them. He asked Cyprus to fix this mistake. He also asked them not to do it again.
This is not the first time Iran has done this. In October 2025, Iran summoned EU ambassadors. This was after the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council made a statement. That statement also asked Iran to leave the islands. The Cyprus-UAE statement mentioned this earlier statement. This shows that Iran sees it as a challenge.
The argument about these islands is an old problem. Iran has controlled them for over 50 years. They are important for Iran's safety and money. The islands are near the Strait of Hormuz, where oil ships pass. The UAE says the islands have always belonged to them.
Calling the Cyprus ambassador is a big diplomatic event. It has caused problems between Iran and Cyprus. Iran wants to show it will protect its land. This event also shows that the Persian Gulf can be a difficult place. Iran's actions might affect how it views other countries' problems. This disagreement could cause more tension in the region.