Iran is celebrating Persian Gulf State Day, marking the anniversary of the expulsion of colonies and foreign troops from strategic waters in 1622.
Day 10 of Ordibehesht, the second month of the Iranian calendar, is designated as the Persian Gulf State Day, not only as a historic victory for Iranian forces over trespassers in southern waters, but also as a reminder that the true name of the Persian Gulf will remain forever.
Throughout the history of the region, which is full of ups and downs, the Persian Gulf, the range of waters that make this civilization, is always named the Persian Gulf or is called by its equivalent in all foreign languages.
From thousands of BC until now, the Persian Gulf is always known as the same ancient name or “Persian Sea” in a variety of books, travel, documents, maps, historical studies, and numerous international documents written in different languages. Historians and researchers use the same name, particularly the incredible sources of Islamic and Arabic references.
While focusing on neighbours’ policies, the Islamic Republic government of Iran hopes that the waters are a sanctuary of regional security and stability, a symbol of peace, friendship and coexistence between regional states, and that others respect the establishment of peace and security in the Persian Gulf by coastal states.
The Iranian trio islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tambus and fewer Tambus in the Persian Gulf are inseparable parts of the country’s territory, and comments made by third parties are fundamentally invalid.
As a newly established country, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has in recent years made unfounded claims about Abu Musa’s three Iranian islands, Greater Tambu and fewer Chinks.
The United Arab Emirates issued political statements to other political parties, but these claims are unreliable and have no effect on the legal status of these islands belonging to Iran, and the sovereignty of Iranian Islamic Republics over these islands is not hindered.
Contrary to genuine official documents, in a recent joint statement at the final meeting of the European Union with the member states of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, Iran is being called to put an end to what it claims to be “occupying” of the three Iranian islands (Greatar Tamb, Lessar Tamb and Ab Musa). The statement takes a hostile stance towards Tehran and ignores international law documents in this respect. It claims that ownership of the Iranian island is in violation of the territorial integrity of the UAE and the principles of the UN Charter!
The sovereignty of Iran’s Islamic Republic via three islands has been proven and is fully valid and inviolable in accordance with international law. Historical documents acknowledge this, and the newly established nation will not distort it.
Undoubtedly, as Iranian officials have stated, the three islands are an integral part of the territory of Iran’s Islamic Republic, and the Islamic Republic of Iran does not allow it to interfere in the internal affairs of foreign parties.
Iran’s Islamic Republic claims ownership of three islands and closely monitors activities that threaten domestic and regional interests. Attacks on the territory of the country are met with necessary responses.
The certainty of the islands belonging to Iran’s Islamic Republic remains unshakable despite unfounded meetings and unfounded claims.
The Iranian government is congratulating all Iranians who made every effort to protect this soil and its water on this wonderful occasion, and those who pay tribute to the honorable martyrs of the Persian Gulf, reminiscent of the expulsion of colonialists from the region.
The Persian Gulf has always been a source of pride and honor for the Iranians. For thousands of years, Iranians have lived with the Persian Gulf and have enjoyed their endless benefits.
In addition to having a vast resource of energy and economic significance, the Persian Gulf has an ancient and unique history and culture that can be seen by the people who lived there.
The unusual cultural and artistic identities of the Persian Gulf neighbourhood are a category that involves a genuine effort to preserve and promote this ancient culture until it is passed on to the next generation.
The bay in southern Iran has been called “Persian” by historians and ancient texts since the establishment of the present-day Akemenid Empire of Iran (550 BC).
According to the book “Names of the Persian Gulf, Documents on the Eternal Heritage of Ancients,” the term “Persian Gulf and its equivalents have been used continuously since 400 BC, especially in Arabic, since before 400 BC.
In almost every map printed before 1960, and in most modern international treaties, documents and maps, this body of water is known as the “Persian Gulf.”
Persia is the historic name of Iran.
However, since the mid-19th century, some Arab-speaking countries, along with their western allies, have been trying to change the historical name of the Persian Gulf in mass media, but Iran believes that politically motivated efforts are of no use.
In this respect, in 2006, Iran designated one tenth of Ordibhescht in the Persian Gulf, reminding us all that the names of the waters remain Persian forever.
The date designated as a national day coincides with the anniversary of the successful military campaign of Abbas I of Persia, when the Portuguese Navy was driven out of the Strait of Hormuz with the capture of Ormuz.
During the Persian-Professional War of 1602, on orders from Abbas I, the Persian army under Imam Kuli Khan managed to expel the Portuguese from Bahrain. In 1612, the Portuguese Empire took over Gamelan and told Komorao his name. Almost two years later (1615), the city was taken away by Abbas after a naval battle with the Portuguese and renamed Bandar e Abbas, or “Port of Abbas.”
In 1622, Abbas regained Hormuz completely from the Portuguese with the capture of Ormuz.
Geopolitics
The Persian Gulf has long been highlighting geopolitical importance.
The Persian Gulf, which spans approximately 250,000 square kilometers, is surrounded by the northern Alband River, which forms the frontier between Iran and Iraq and the Strait of Hormuz to the south, linking the Persian Gulf to the seas of Oman and the Indian Ocean.
It shares boundaries with Iran (Persia), Oman, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
Connecting the Middle East to Africa, India and China, the Persian Gulf is one of the most important waterways and strategic regions in the world.
The first discovery of Middle Eastern oil in the Iranian city of Masjed Soleiman in the early 19th century increased the geopolitical weight of the Persian Gulf region, resulting in the beginning of a wave of exploration, extraction and exploitation that changed the history of the region.
The Persian Gulf is now considered the world’s energy hub. Nearly 20 million barrels of crude rock and condensate are shipped from the Persian Gulf from the strategic Strait of Hormuz per day. As normal global oil consumption reaches around 100 million bpd, this means that almost a fifth of global demand will pass through the strategic channel.
Approximately 50,000 ships sail through the waterways each year, of which 17,000 are oil tankers heading to Asian countries.
However, various geopolitical factors in the Persian Gulf are not simply limited to oil. In fact, history of various periods has different influences on strategic waters.
The Persian Gulf region has been a scene of serious tensions between regional and non-regional power over the past decades.
Several wars with neighbours over the past decades and the increasing military activity by regional and non-regional countries, such as naval training and the establishment of military bases in Arab countries in the Persian Gulf, are among other evidence of the undeniable status of strategic water bodies.
Experts believe that not maintaining security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz will negatively affect the economy around the world by the large amount of energy in the bay and strategic waterways.
MNA