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2012-11-05 Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Iran sets up new base near disputed islands
TEHRAN: Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guards inaugurated a new naval base yesterday to reinforce Tehran’s authority over three Persian Gulf islands also claimed by the neighboring United Arab Emirates, Iranian state TV reported.

The base near the Iranian mainland’s southern port of Bandar-e Lengeh some 1,100 kilometers (700 miles) south of Tehran is the Guards’ fifth in the Gulf. The Guards’ navy chief Gen. Ali Fadavi said missile and marine units have been deployed there. It lies north of the Iranian-controlled islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb that dominate the approach to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

Iran took control of the Persian Gulf islands in 1971, after British forces left the region. Since 1992, the UAE has repeatedly claimed the islands and last month at the UN General Assembly, it said Iran’s “occupation” violates international law. In April, a visit by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the islands inflamed the dispute over the territories and prompted an outcry by UAE and its Arab allies. Tehran later vowed to develop the islands through tourism and other industries, though little has been reported on that since the visit. During the inauguration of the base, Guards chief Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari expressed the hope that new base could support economic development of the islands.

Tehran says the islands have been part of states that existed on the Iranian mainland from antiquity until the British occupied them in the early 20th century.

Tehran also maintains that an agreement signed eight years before its 1979 Islamic Revolution between Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the ruler of one of the UAE’s seven emirates, Sharjah, gives it the right to administer Abu Musa and station troops there. There was no agreement on the other two islands. The UAE insists they belonged to the emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah until Iran captured them by force days before the UAE statehood in 1971.
Posted by Steve White 2012-11-05 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11133 views ]  Top

#1 How many people live there?
Posted by American Delight 2012-11-05 06:06|| http://moneyjihad.wordpress.com/  2012-11-05 06:06|| Front Page Top

#2 Dunno how many people live there. A couple of other stories: Here and here. Looks like Iran is get itself into a strategic position to block the Strait of Hormuz?
Posted by JohnQC 2012-11-05 07:56||   2012-11-05 07:56|| Front Page Top

#3 Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards
Well there ya go!

Hope they don't get picked off by Slaying Mantis types.
Posted by Shipman 2012-11-05 11:06||   2012-11-05 11:06|| Front Page Top

#4 Tourism you say?

Snorkeling, swimming, para sailing, wind surfing, wide sandy beaches, boating...it's all there. Throw in a four star hotel and a halfway decent nightclub and you just might have something. Can't you imagine all the glistening, wet skin in those bikinis on those beaches? No? I guess the Iranians aren't really famous for that sort of thing.

According to Wikipedia there are 2131 inhabitants. The way the story reads on Wikipedia the UAE claim is based on British occupation that began shortly after the turn of the century when the UAE didn't even exist. Sounds like before then it really was Iranian or Persian or whatever they were calling themselves back then. It has a small harbor that would probably be big enough for the Iranian navy. UAE can make all the claims they want but I think they've lost it.
Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2012-11-05 13:57||   2012-11-05 13:57|| Front Page Top

#5 POOF.
Posted by newc 2012-11-05 17:43||   2012-11-05 17:43|| Front Page Top

#6 Can we relocate Gitmo there?
Posted by American Delight 2012-11-05 19:41|| http://moneyjihad.wordpress.com/  2012-11-05 19:41|| Front Page Top

#7 at the balloon drop, it will be first to go
Posted by Frank G 2012-11-05 19:59||   2012-11-05 19:59|| Front Page Top

#8 "Can't you imagine all the glistening, wet skin in those bikinis on those beaches? No? I guess the Iranians aren't really famous for that sort of thing."

Obviously you haven't see Iranian babes partying in Turkey. Not just the hijab comes off.
Posted by European Conservative 2012-11-05 20:25||   2012-11-05 20:25|| Front Page Top

#9 ION NAVBASES, FREEREPUBLIC > RED FLAG IN THE ATLANTIC: CHINA IS ANGLING TO TAKEOVER US AIR BASE IN THE AZORES.

The presently unused or under-utilized AB#4, aka Lajes Field.

D *** NG, does the Atlantic command of the Iranian or IRGC Navy know???

versus

* RENSE > [AlexAnsary.TV] CALIFORNIA CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE WANTS TO LEASE FORMAL/EX-NAVY BASE TO CHINA, at Alameda Point.

ARTIC = denotes that major deal is in the works for China Development Bank to help finance projects at other ex-Navy bases in CA, i.e. Treasure Island + Hunter's Point.

WALL STREET JOURNAL is observing as these Deal(s) could set an important precedent vee other former USDOD sites throughout the USA.

[POTUS CARTER + PANAMA CANAL here].
Posted by JosephMendiola 2012-11-05 20:48||   2012-11-05 20:48|| Front Page Top

#10 Pictures, EC. We need pictures!
Posted by Abu Uluque 2012-11-05 21:32||   2012-11-05 21:32|| Front Page Top

#11 Just trust me :-)
Posted by European Conservative 2012-11-05 23:36||   2012-11-05 23:36|| Front Page Top

#12 Like Reagan said, trust, but verify.
Posted by SteveS 2012-11-05 23:57||   2012-11-05 23:57|| Front Page Top

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