Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited the disputed island of Al Mousa . UAE foreign minister described the visit as a ` ` flagrant violation '' of his country 's sovereignty . Ahmadinejad used his visit to Abu Mousa to comment on the historical basis for the Persian Gulf 's name , according to Iranian state news agency IRNA . The UAE and Iran are engaged in a long - running dispute over the Persian Gulf islands .
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited the disputed island of Al Mousa . UAE foreign minister described the visit as a ` ` flagrant violation '' of his country 's sovereignty . The UAE and Iran are engaged in a long - running dispute over the Persian Gulf islands .