“Iran’s aircraft carriers that never leave their positions” — this is how Tehran describes its network of islands in the Strait of Hormuz; an integrated military system comprising radars, missile platforms, runways, and bases for fast boats and submarines, positioned within a narrow maritime corridor only tens of kilometers wide, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil trade passes.
The importance of these Iranian islands is underscored at a time when Tehran has demonstrated its ability to disrupt navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States is deploying additional forces to the Middle East amid speculation of a U.S. ground invasion that could begin with Kharg Island, which holds major economic importance for Iran.
Tehran’s operational weight in the strait is concentrated on seven main islands positioned along or adjacent to shipping lanes.
Qeshm Island, the largest island in the Gulf, comes at the forefront, as it represents a forward base practically connected to the city of Bandar Abbas, giving it a central role in logistical and operational support. The island hosts military infrastructure that includes missile storage sites, surveillance facilities, and bases for fast boats and drones, making it closer to an “operations center” within the strait.
Amid military escalation, Qeshm has emerged as a direct target for U.S. and Israeli strikes, with reports indicating that facilities and ports on the island have been targeted.
Estimates from research centers indicate that any operation to reopen navigation in the Strait of Hormuz would require, in addition to naval deployment, the neutralization of missile capabilities and coastal platforms relied upon by Iran, including those deployed on key islands such as Qeshm.
Alongside it, Hormuz Island plays the role of the “forward eye.” Its location at the entrance of the strait between the Gulf and the Sea of Oman, and its proximity to the Iranian coast and Bandar Abbas, give it a direct capability to monitor incoming and outgoing vessels, especially with the potential deployment of radars and sensing systems across its relatively elevated terrain.
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Larak Island also plays an important role in Iran’s system for controlling the passage. Iran uses the island to monitor ship movements, benefiting from a network of bunkers and attack boats capable of threatening commercial vessels.
Reports indicate that controlling Larak could limit Iran’s ability to harass ships and lay mines and might help the United States break Tehran’s grip on transit through the strait. At the same time, it warns that the island is heavily fortified, making it a difficult target for any military operation.
There is also Kish Island, which is used as a naval support platform alongside its economic role. Although it does not match the importance of Larak or Qeshm in terms of direct impact on navigation, it represents operational depth and logistical support thanks to its airport and free zone facilities, especially since its airport was among the targets struck in the early days of the war.
In addition to the seven islands directly linked to the strait, Kharg Island has emerged in recent military discussions as a different type of target in terms of function; it does not directly control transit lines in Hormuz, but it represents the economic heart of Iran’s energy network.
Kharg is located in the northern Gulf near Bushehr, outside the neck of the strait itself, yet it is considered the primary export terminal for about 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. Its deep-water facilities allow for the loading of supertankers, which has made it central to recent U.S. debates over the feasibility of targeting it or even seizing it militarily.
The same applies, to a lesser extent, to the islands of Lavan and Sirri, which are linked to offshore fields and loading facilities, making them part of Iran’s maritime and energy depth.
On the western side of the strait, the equation takes on a more complex political dimension.
The islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb are under Iranian control but have been disputed with the United Arab Emirates since 1971. These islands are not only advanced observation points near shipping lanes but also political flashpoints that could ignite.
Abu Musa stands out as the most significant among them. It covers an area of about 12 square kilometers and is inhabited by around 2,000 people. Its location enables it to monitor and threaten ships, adding a geopolitical dimension to its military role. It was also targeted in the early days of the war.
As for Greater and Lesser Tunb, despite their small size, their proximity to maritime routes gives them weight beyond their scale, through their potential to monitor and intercept vessels.
In this sense, the value of Iran’s island network is not limited to monitoring or threatening transit but also extends to protecting the infrastructure that enables Tehran to continue exporting energy and financing its ability to withstand any prolonged confrontation.
The article is a translation of the original Arabic.
Ezat Wagdi Ba Awaidhan
Ezat Wagdi Ba Awaidhan, a Yemeni journalist and documentary filmmaker based in Washington, D.C., holds a master's degree in media studies.
