TEHRAN, 14 June 2004 — Iran’s Foreign Ministry has summoned Qatar’s ambassador to Tehran to protest over an alleged fatal attack on an Iranian boat by a Qatari naval vessel in the Gulf, the IRNA news agency reported yesterday.
“A Qatari boat attacked an Iranian boat in the Gulf, resulting in the killing and injuring of a number of crew members,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying in a statement.
A top Interior Ministry official, Ali Asgar Ahmadi, said the fishermen were working near the small Iranian island of Lavan when they were attacked in the early hours of Friday. “They were attacked by a Qatari naval boat. One fisherman was killed and two were injured. The boat was confiscated and the fishermen arrested,” the deputy interior minister in charge of security affairs told IRNA.
“What has happened is unacceptable and not compatible with international rules and regulations. Iran will defend the right of Iranians,” he added, calling for their immediate release and compensation to be paid.
The Foreign Ministry statement said Qatari Ambassador Saleh Ebrahim Al-Quwari was given a “strong protest” on Saturday and told to ensure the boat and crew were immediately returned to Iran.
“Iran also wants those responsible to be identified and prosecuted,” the Foreign Ministry said.
According to IRNA, the Qatari ambassador to Tehran said he “has no information on the matter” but “will inform the concerned officials and will respond immediately.”
The Qatari Embassy in Tehran refused to comment.
The spat comes just a week after Iran protested to the United Arab Emirates, which it accused of firing on an Iranian boat and arresting its crew who were fishing in waters off a disputed Gulf island held by Iran but claimed by the UAE.
The Foreign Ministry complained over the “unacceptable” behavior of the UAE, but an IRNA report later said the Iranian crew had been tired and had drifted into waters off Dubai.
