Key facts
- Three Iranian-controlled islands—Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb—are strategically located at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
- These islands, seized by Iran in 1971, help Iran control the strait, through which a fifth of global oil and natural gas passes.
- The U.S. military has recently conducted strikes on Abu Musa and Greater Tunb islands as part of escalating military actions.
- The islands are garrisoned by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, equipped with fast boats and missiles used to harass shipping.
- The ownership of the islands remains disputed, with the UAE advocating for resolution through negotiation or international court.
- The islands' strategic value has been compared to a 'fixed aircraft carrier' for Iran, enabling it to project power and deny access.
The expanding U.S. military campaign against Iran has intensified focus on three small islands—Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb—that control access to the Strait of Hormuz. These islands, seized by Iran from the United Arab Emirates in 1971, are heavily militarized by Iran's Revolutionary Guard and play a crucial role in its ability to influence or control shipping through the vital waterway.
Iran has utilized these islands as strategic bases, notably during the 1980s Tanker War, to monitor and attack vessels. In recent days, the U.S. military has conducted strikes on Abu Musa and Greater Tunb, leading to speculation about potential invasion. Analysts like Isabel Oakeshott describe Abu Musa as a 'fixed aircraft carrier' for Iran, highlighting its significant defensive and offensive capabilities.
Brandon Carr, an analyst at the Quincy Institute, cautioned that any U.S. attempt to occupy the islands would face severe challenges from Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, potentially limiting force protection and power projection. The ownership of the islands remains a point of contention, with the UAE actively lobbying for a resolution through negotiation or international courts, a stance that has angered Tehran.
Noora Mohamed Al Murry, an Emirati legal scholar, argued that the dispute over these islands is fundamentally a strategic claim on a global chokepoint. The ongoing conflict, which has seen over 50 attacks on vessels and oil rigs, underscores the critical nature of the Strait of Hormuz and the islands that help govern access to it.