Maritime Defense Strategies of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Response to Extra-Regional Maritime Coalitions Aligned with the United States and the Zionist Regime in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean

By virtue of its location in the northern Indian Ocean and its proximity to the Gulf of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Iran enjoys a distinctive geopolitical and maritime position at both the regional and global levels. This maritime position has contributed to the expansion of maritime-based threats in this strategically sensitive area, particularly amid the extensive presence of extra-regional forces, thereby posing persistent risks to the country’s interests and resources. At the same time, extra-regional states, in pursuit of securing and advancing their objectives and interests, have established maritime coalitions in various regions—particularly in the Indian Ocean—in cooperation with aligned regional forces. Accordingly, the development of appropriate maritime defense strategies in response to such coalitions has become an important and necessary consideration. Using a descriptive-analytical methodology and a mixed-methods approach, this study seeks to answer the following research question: What maritime defense strategies should the Islamic Republic of Iran adopt in response to U.S.- and Zionist-aligned extra-regional maritime coalitions in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean? The expert panel consisted of 15 experts, while the statistical population comprised 45 participants, selected through a census approach. Following the collection of questionnaires at each stage of the research, the data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS. Ultimately, based on the expert panel’s assessment, seven principal strategies, supported by 27 component strategies, were identified on the basis of 108 selected research factors, comprising 2 weaknesses, 30 strengths, 26 opportunities, and 44 threats. The strategies identified in response to U.S.- and Zionist-aligned extra-regional maritime coalitions in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean are as follows: strengthening the Islamic Republic of Iran’s military power and capabilities; leveraging transit capacity; activating India as a strategic actor; pursuing proactive maritime-defense diplomacy; capitalizing on the blue economy; establishing regional security arrangements; and contributing to maritime security.