As the conflict involving Iran intensifies, the focus of the renewed US military campaign has shifted to the country’s southern coast, particularly the strategic port city of Bandar Abbas. Washington’s objective is to weaken Iran’s ability to threaten shipping through the Strait of Hormuz with missiles, drones and fast attack boats.The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. Before the conflict, nearly 20 per cent of global oil and gas supplies passed through these waters. Any disruption has immediate consequences for energy markets and international trade.Bandar Abbas, located on Iran’s southern coast along the Persian Gulf, sits near the northern entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, which narrows to just 31-39 kilometres at its tightest point. The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in West Asia, says it has struck Iranian air defence systems, radar installations, drone facilities and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) fast attack boats in and around the city. CENTCOM has also released videos of the strikes.According to the US, the campaign is aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to target commercial shipping and ensuring freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Bandar Abbas is southern Iran’s largest logistics hub, and any sustained disruption to its military and port infrastructure could reduce Iran’s capacity to threaten maritime traffic while increasing economic pressure on Tehran.
Why Bandar Abbas is crucial for Iran
Bandar Abbas derives its strategic importance from its concentration of critical infrastructure. It is home to Shahid Rajaee Port, Iran’s largest container terminal, Bandar Abbas International Airport, and major naval bases operated by both the Iranian Navy and the IRGC. Together, these facilities form the backbone of Iran’s maritime logistics network and coastal defence.US Central Command says its strikes have also targeted drone operations and surveillance systems in and around the city. Iran, in turn, has responded with missile and drone attacks against US interests in the Gulf.Any disruption in or around Bandar Abbas has global repercussions. Shipping companies reassess routes, insurers raise war-risk premiums, and oil prices react almost immediately to the prospect of supply disruptions. Recent strikes have already pushed crude prices higher as markets priced in the growing risk to energy flows.Home to more than 500,000 people, Bandar Abbas lies just 60-70 kilometres north of the narrowest point of the Strait of Hormuz. Its location gives Iran a commanding position over one of the world’s busiest and most strategically significant shipping lanes.Since the April 8 ceasefire, Iran has continued to oversee maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, while US forces have imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Positioned at the gateway to the Persian Gulf, Bandar Abbas remains central not only to Iran’s maritime strategy but also to the broader contest over control of one of the world’s most vital energy corridors.
