Page 255 - The Arabian Gulf States_Neat

IRAN’S CLAIM TO BAHRAIN 193
she* has been able to do was to protest, on paper, to Britain and to
pass legislation in Persia, the object of which is to renew the assertion
of her claim to the island.1
Finally, in the light of the foregoing principles of law, it seems evi-
dent that the Persian Government’s intermittent protests during the
past and present centuries can afford no defence in face of the un­
equivocal rights of the present Government of Bahrain, as established
by prescription or adverse holding.
Conclusion
It can be seen from the above legal analysis that the Persian claim
to sovereignty over Bahrain lacks any valid legal grounds. But it
appears from repeated Persian statements that Persia, essentially,
bases her claim on her historical connection with the island in the
past. Thus, it has often been alleged by Persia that
Bahrein has always and uninterruptedly formed part of Persia in past
centuries, except during the Portuguese occupation from 1507-1622 [? 1522-
1602], in which year the Persian Government resumed possession of this
territory.2
It has been shown above that this statement does not correspond
with historical facts.3 As early as 1844, the British Indian authorities
denied the allegations made by the Persian Prime Minister, Haji
Mcerza Aghassi, to the effect that Bahrain was ‘a Persian possession'.
Those authorities stated:
Bahrein may have been a dependency of Fars while the Persians were in
actual possession of the Island. But the allegation that they had possessed
it from a.d. 1300, is contrary to the best evidence that can be produced
on the subject.4
Therefore, as a purely historical claim—based on an occupation
lasting between 1602 and 1782—the Persian claim does not seem to
stand today any chance of success. In the words of Hill:
Historic claims are difficult to assess, and cannot be taken at face value.
Standing by itself, the historic claim is weak.5

1 In 1957 a bill was passed by the Persian Parliament by virtue of which Bahrain
was officially included as forming one of the administrative divisions of Iran.
Sec House of Commons Debates, vol. 578, op. cit.
When the Persian Foreign Minister, Mr Ardalan, gave a press conference in
Iran on 8 April 1957 about his Government’s claim to Bahrain, he stated that his
Government, in spite of its differences with Britain, did not intend to place its
dispute with Britain ‘on the agenda of the Baghdad Pact council meeting* which
was then due to be held in Tehran. He preferred ‘to maintain discussions on this
problem with Britain in a direct and friendly manner’. See The Times, 9 April 1957.
2 L.N.O.7., September 1928, p. 1361. 3 See above, pp. 167-8.
4 Sec above, p. 171. 6 Hill, op. cit., p. 171.