In 1622, with the support of the British East India Company, Shah Abbas expelled the Portuguese forces who had held strategic control over the Persian Gulf. The victory was pivotal not only for asserting Iranian sovereignty over the region but also for establishing Persian dominance in maritime trade. To commemorate this achievement, the city was renamed Bandar Abbas—“Port of Abbas.”
Geopolitical Significance
Bandar Abbas holds a critical geographic position at the narrow Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint through which nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes. Its proximity to the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Ocean, and international waters has long made it a valuable asset for Iran’s strategic posture.
