UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 27 (UPI) — The occupation by Iran of three small islands in the Persian Gulf is a violation of international law, an Emirati official told the U.N. General Assembly.The Gulf Cooperation Council last year ruled the United Arab Emirates has ownership of the islands of Greater and Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa.Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan told the General Assembly that Iran needs to either enter into “serious” negotiations over the status of the islands or face the international courts.