Historical Roots of Iran's Ownership of Tunb Islands
May 5, 1999 - 0:0
Part 3 During these years, Britain took advantage of the problems facing the Qajar government and, amid the constitutional movement, embarked on fortifying its eastern borders with Iran and establishing greater influence over the Persian Gulf. Inciting the Sheikhdoms to lodge lawsuits to claim ownership of the Iranian islands in 1903 was an instance of such interventions. Also, in an attempt to prevent Iran from re-establishing its sovereignty and in order to block the Russian influence over the region, Britain declined to recognize the two Tunb islands as belonging to Iran. Britain urged the Sheikh of Sharjah and the Sheikh of Ra'sol-Khaymeh to hoist their banners in the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, supporting the two Sheikhdoms for a period of 65 years.
In 1971, Iran and Sharjah signed an accord on Abu Musa island and reached agreement on the annexation of the Greater and Lesser Tunbs to Iran. Thus, the sovereignty of Iran over the above islands was officially confirmed. Tunb in European Sources: The oldest European source in which we come across the name `Tunb' is the French-Dutch map of 1740, which records the two Tunbs as `Tomba'. Another French map of 1751 refers to the Greater Tunb as Tombo and the Lesser Tunb as Nabiyo. The encyclopedia of geographical names and peoples by Danish navigator Carsten Nibor has registered the word as Tonb. In a Persian-Arabic manuscript, the Lesser Tunb has been recorded as Tumb Namiu and the Greater Tunb as Tonb Namiveh, both of which declared uninhabitable.
Tunb in Historical Phonetics: The word `Tunb' is of Persian origin. The term has been at times used in the form of Tumb or Tunb in Arabic texts, which indicates another form of the pronunciation and phonetics of the word in Arabic. In geographical texts of the early centuries of Islam, the term `Tunb' has come in the form of Tunbak, meaning Lesser Tunb. The word `Tunb' in Persian language has been defined as a mound, and the superficial features of the two islands are visible in the form of a series of hillocks, which has been the cause of the denomination in Iran's geographical culture.
Conclusion: From what has been said, it is hoped that the impartial readers have become enlightened that the geographical and chronological succession and phonological commonalties of the islands located in the mouth of and vicinity of Hurmoz stem from Persian and are of Iranian origin. Historical and cultrual records of the Tunb islands confirm Iran's ownership of the two Tunbs. (Concluded)
In 1971, Iran and Sharjah signed an accord on Abu Musa island and reached agreement on the annexation of the Greater and Lesser Tunbs to Iran. Thus, the sovereignty of Iran over the above islands was officially confirmed. Tunb in European Sources: The oldest European source in which we come across the name `Tunb' is the French-Dutch map of 1740, which records the two Tunbs as `Tomba'. Another French map of 1751 refers to the Greater Tunb as Tombo and the Lesser Tunb as Nabiyo. The encyclopedia of geographical names and peoples by Danish navigator Carsten Nibor has registered the word as Tonb. In a Persian-Arabic manuscript, the Lesser Tunb has been recorded as Tumb Namiu and the Greater Tunb as Tonb Namiveh, both of which declared uninhabitable.
Tunb in Historical Phonetics: The word `Tunb' is of Persian origin. The term has been at times used in the form of Tumb or Tunb in Arabic texts, which indicates another form of the pronunciation and phonetics of the word in Arabic. In geographical texts of the early centuries of Islam, the term `Tunb' has come in the form of Tunbak, meaning Lesser Tunb. The word `Tunb' in Persian language has been defined as a mound, and the superficial features of the two islands are visible in the form of a series of hillocks, which has been the cause of the denomination in Iran's geographical culture.
Conclusion: From what has been said, it is hoped that the impartial readers have become enlightened that the geographical and chronological succession and phonological commonalties of the islands located in the mouth of and vicinity of Hurmoz stem from Persian and are of Iranian origin. Historical and cultrual records of the Tunb islands confirm Iran's ownership of the two Tunbs. (Concluded)