Territorial disputes between States are among the most prevalent in international relations and before international courts and tribunals, including the ICJ and ITLOS. Claims made by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) regarding sovereignty over the three islands—Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb—represent a significant case in this respect. This contribution reviews the book A Fuss over Nothing: Examining the Evidence Referred to by the Sheikhs on Claiming the Islands of Lesser Tunb, Greater Tunb, and Abu Musa (hereafter A Fuss Over Nothing) by Mohammad-Ali Movahhed, which supports Iran’s sovereignty over the Three Islands. Originally written in Persian, the book has been translated into French, Turkish, and Arabic as of February 2025. It was written in response to Dispute between the UAE and Iran over the Islands: Abu Musa, Greater and Lesser Tunbs; British Documents (1764-1971), authored by Iraqi writer Walid Hamdi al-Aazami in 1995 (in Arabic). Through nine chapters, including a “Preface” and “Final Words,” Movahhed debunks the UAE’s claims of sovereignty over the three islands, demonstrating that these claims are baseless and weak in view of the documents cited by the Iraqi author. Given the scholarly, precise, and forthright character of its author, A Fuss Over Nothing is an indispensable source for study and research on the subject of Iran’s sovereignty over the three islands.
Azizi,S. and Karami,M. (2025). The Motherland: Reviewing A Fuss over Nothing on the Sovereignty over Three Iranian Islands by Mohammad-Ali Movahhed. Iranian Review for UN Studies, 5(2), 23-45. doi: 10.22034/iruns.2025.509481.1166
MLA
Azizi,S. , and Karami,M. . "The Motherland: Reviewing A Fuss over Nothing on the Sovereignty over Three Iranian Islands by Mohammad-Ali Movahhed", Iranian Review for UN Studies, 5, 2, 2025, 23-45. doi: 10.22034/iruns.2025.509481.1166
HARVARD
Azizi S., Karami M. (2025). 'The Motherland: Reviewing A Fuss over Nothing on the Sovereignty over Three Iranian Islands by Mohammad-Ali Movahhed', Iranian Review for UN Studies, 5(2), pp. 23-45. doi: 10.22034/iruns.2025.509481.1166
CHICAGO
S. Azizi and M. Karami, "The Motherland: Reviewing A Fuss over Nothing on the Sovereignty over Three Iranian Islands by Mohammad-Ali Movahhed," Iranian Review for UN Studies, 5 2 (2025): 23-45, doi: 10.22034/iruns.2025.509481.1166
VANCOUVER
Azizi S., Karami M. The Motherland: Reviewing A Fuss over Nothing on the Sovereignty over Three Iranian Islands by Mohammad-Ali Movahhed. IRUNS, 2025; 5(2): 23-45. doi: 10.22034/iruns.2025.509481.1166
