The United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said Monday the "occupation" of three disputed islands by Iran could affect " international security and peace" as the islands are located in a zone of geopolitical importance, UAE state media agency WAM reported.

Iran and the UAE both claimed territorial sovereignty over the three islands of the Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa in the Gulf, and have been at odds over them for decades. Last Wednesday, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited Iran-controlled Abu Musa island, a move that immediately sparked criticism from Arab countries and the recall of UAE's ambassador to Iran.

"It is with regret that a Muslim and neighbour country with civilization and traditions behaves in such a manner. It is supposed to behave rationally and not to project its internal concerns abroad. In this case, consequences can be dangerous," Sheikh Abdullah said in Abu Dhabi on the occasion of Indian Foreign Minister Somanahalli Krishna's visit to the UAE.

"I call upon Iran to listen to the voice of reason and put an end to the standoff of which the repercussions could not be contained by either the UAE or Iran in future," Sheikh Abdullah said.

After Ahmadinedjad's controversial visit to Abu Musa last Wednesday, six Gulf Arab foreign ministers decided to hold an emergency meeting on Tuesday in Qatar's capital of Doha. Besides, a planned friendly football match between the UAE and Iran scheduled for Tuesday was cancelled by the UAE in the wake of the island dispute.