Persian Gulf location on the global map, Credit: https://ontheworldmap.com/oceans-and-seas/persian-gulf/
Nestled between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran, the Persian Gulf is a shallow, strategic extension of the Indian Ocean, accessed via the vital Strait of Hormuz. Its character is defined by a rich history as a cradle of ancient trade and its modern dominance as the world’s premier energy corridor, owing to vast oil and gas reserves. This combination of economic indispensability and historical depth has cemented its enduring geopolitical popularity and global significance.
The Persian Gulf, a body of water steeped in history, has been a nexus of trade, culture, and geopolitical power struggles for over 5,000 years. This region, bordered by eight nations—Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman—has witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the birth of major religions, and the transformation from ancient trade routes to modern oil economies.
Among these nations, Iran holds a unique distinction: it is the only Persian Gulf country that was never colonized by foreign powers and thus has no “Independence Day.” For more than 2,500 years, Iran (historically Persia) has been the dominant maritime force in the Persian Gulf, controlling trade routes, establishing naval supremacy, and maintaining uninterrupted sovereignty.
Mesopotamia: the cradle of civilisations. Credit: https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Fertile-Crescent/323161
The Persian Gulf: A Cradle of Civilization
Ancient Trade and Early Civilizations
The Persian Gulf has functioned as a vital trade corridor since at least 3,000 BCE, serving as a liquid highway linking the great civilizations of Mesopotamia with the Indus Valley and territories beyond. This maritime arena nurtured some of history’s earliest and most influential cultures. Among them, the Sumerians, flourishing between 4,000 and 2,000 BCE, are credited with establishing the world’s first organized maritime trade networks from their cities in southern Mesopotamia. Concurrently, the Elamite civilization, powerful from 2,700 to 539 BCE, controlled critical overland and maritime trade routes between the Persian plateau and Mesopotamia. Further south, the civilization of Dilmun, centered on modern-day Bahrain and thriving from 3,000 to 600 BCE, rose to prominence as a crucial trading hub and cultural entrepôt, famous for its trade in copper and precious pearls.
The Persian Gulf’s Name: Historical Evidence
The enduring designation of this body of water as the “Persian Gulf” is deeply rooted in historical record, dating back to approximately 550 BCE when the Achaemenid Empire established naval dominance in the region. This name has been consistently documented by diverse sources across millennia. The Greek historian Herodotus, writing in 440 BCE, explicitly referred to it as the “Persian Gulf” in his works. Centuries later, the renowned Roman geographer Strabo, in the 1st century CE, similarly confirmed its Persian identity in his writings. The name continued uninterrupted through the Islamic Golden Age, with celebrated scholars and cartographers from the 9th to the 14th centuries employing terms such as “Bahr al-Fars,” which translates directly to “the Persian Sea.”
Strategic Importance
The Persian Gulf maintains an unparalleled strategic significance in the modern world, a legacy of its ancient role as a commercial crossroads. Its most critical modern feature is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime passage that functions as the world’s most important oil chokepoint, through which a substantial portion of globally traded oil must transit. This modern energy artery echoes the Gulf’s historical function as a central nexus for international trade, having for centuries connected the markets and cultures of China, India, Arabia, and the eastern coast of Africa.
A map illustrating the rise and evolution of the Achaemenid Persian Empire (from the name of Achaemenes, an ancestor of the empire’s founder, Cyrus the Great) from its origins in around 550 BCE when Cyrus II of Persia conquered the Medes until its height during the reign of another Great – Darius I when, in c. 500 BCE, it brought under a single government the three major sites of early human civilization: Mesopotamia, the Nile Valley and and the valley of Indus river. One of the largest empires in history, this Iron Age civilization became a center of culture, religion, science, art and technology for more than two centuries until, in 329 BCE, it was conquered by Alexander the Great.
Image Credit: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/16107/the-achaemenid-persian-empire-c-500-bce/
Iran: The Unbroken Sovereign Power
Why Iran Has No Independence Day
Unlike its neighbours, Iran was never colonized, resisting:
- Portuguese (16th century): Expelled from Hormuz Island in 1622.
- British & Russian influence (19th century): Maintained sovereignty despite concessions.
- Anglo-Soviet occupation (1941–1946): Temporary wartime occupation, not colonization.
2,500 Years of Persian Gulf Dominance
1. Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BCE)
- First Persian Navy: Established by Cyrus the Great.
- Control of Gulf trade: Connected Mesopotamia to India.
2. Sassanian Empire (224–651 CE)
- Major ports: Siraf (Bushehr) became a global trade hub.
- Naval battles: Defeated Arab incursions before Islam.
3. Safavid Dynasty (1501–1736)
- Expelled Portuguese: Shah Abbas I reclaimed Hormuz in 1622.
- Developed Bandar Abbas: A key Persian Gulf port.
4. Qajar & Pahlavi Eras (1796–1979)
- Modern navy: Established to counter British influence.
- Oil discovery (1908): Transformed Iran’s geopolitical role.
Iran’s Maritime Legacy
- Shipbuilding: Ancient Persians were master shipwrights.
- Pearl diving: Dominated the industry for centuries.
- Strait of Hormuz control: Still a critical leverage point today.
Other Persian Gulf Countries: Colonial Past & Modern Independence
Iraq: From Babylon to British Rule
- Ancient Mesopotamia: Birthplace of writing (Sumer), then was a part of Persian empires for about one thousand years.
- Ottoman rule (1534–1918): Fell to Britain after WWI.
- Independence (1932): Kingdom of Iraq established.
Kuwait: British Protectorate to Oil Giant
- 18th century: Founded by Bani Utub tribe.
- British era (1899–1961): Independence in 1961.
Saudi Arabia: Desert Kingdom to Global Power
- First Saudi State (1744–1818): Wahhabi alliance.
- Unification (1932): By King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud.
Qatar: Pearl Diving to LNG Superpower
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Ottoman influence (1871–1916): British protectorate until 1971.
UAE: From Trucial States to Federation
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British control (1820–1971): Seven emirates united in 1971.
Oman: Maritime Empire to Neutral Mediator
- Portuguese occupation (1507–1650): Expelled by Omanis.
- British influence (19th century): Maintained sovereignty.
Iranian Military Navy. Credit: https://www.yjc.ir/en/news/12881/iranian-admiral-affirms-warning-to-us-vessel
Geopolitical Rivalries in the Persian Gulf
Iran vs. Arab States: Key Conflicts
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Territorial disputes:
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UAE claims on the Iranian islands of Bu Musa & Tunb Islands (Iran-controlled).
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Bahrain’s historical ties to Persia.
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Religious divide:
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Shia Iran vs. Sunni Arab monarchies.
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Oil & gas competition:
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OPEC tensions, sanctions on Iran.
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The Role of Foreign Powers
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Britain (19th–20th centuries): Dominated Gulf sheikhdoms(Arab regions south of the Persian Gulf).
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USA (post-WWII): Military bases in Qatar, UAE.
Thousands of Iranian Boats at the IRCG Navy’s Swarm Attack Capabilities.
Image credit: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/12/iran-boosts-ircg-navy-swarm-attack-capabilities/
Conclusion: Iran’s Enduring Influence in the Persian Gulf
While rarely, Persian Gulf Arab nations have rich histories, Iran stands apart due to:
✔ No colonial past (no Independence Day).
✔ 2,500+ years of maritime dominance.
✔ Strategic control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Today, Iran remains a pivotal player in Gulf geopolitics, continuing a legacy that began with the Achaemenid Empire over two millennia ago.