These are Iran’s key islands in the Gulf
April 3, 2026
Middle East Eye
These are Iran’s key islands in the Gulf Iran's islands are in the spotlight. While most of its roughly 400 islands are small and uninhabited, several of them are large and strategically important. The most significant of these islands lie in the Gulf, across from Iran's neighbours in the Arabian peninsula, and in the Strait of Hormuz. The latter waterway, which connects the Persian/Arabian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and onwards to the Indian Ocean, is a vital chokepoint through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes.
In response to the US-Israeli war, Iran has effectively closed the strait - and its islands have been key to such asymmetric warfare tactics. But Iran's islands are also crucial for its energy and tourism industries, and contain rich and layered histories, much like the rest of the country. Three of them are disputed and claimed by the UAE; another is known for its community of fisherwomen; and one is the site where a former FBI agent disappeared two decades ago. Middle East Eye takes a closer look at nine Iranian islands. Read more: These are Iran’s key islands in the Gulf
Middle East Eye
Coverage and analysis from Qatar. All insights are generated by our AI narrative analysis engine.