Major Iranian Ports on the Persian Gulf

Iran's Persian Gulf coastline hosts strategic ports vital for oil/gas export, trade, and naval power. Key ports (west to east):

1. Bandar Abbas (Hormozgan): **Iran's largest, busiest port.** Main container, general cargo, Ro-Ro, cruise hub. Shahid Rajaee complex. Near Strait of Hormuz.
2. Bandar Lengeh (Hormozgan): Historic dhow port; fishing, coastal trade, smuggling interdiction.
3. Qeshm Island (Hormozgan): Multiple facilities; free trade zone; shipbuilding, repair, logistics.
4. Kish Island (Hormozgan): Free trade/tourism zone; modern marina, cargo, ferry terminal.
5. Bushehr (Bushehr Province): Major commercial port; **Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant** adjacent; petrochemical.
6. Assaluyeh / Bandar-e Assaluyeh (Bushehr): **World's largest gas processing hub** (South Pars). Specialized energy/LNG/condensate export terminals.
7. Khorramshahr (Khuzestan): On Shatt al-Arab (Arvand Rud); historic, war-damaged, rebuilt. Grain, general cargo.
8. Abadan (Khuzestan): **Massive oil refinery** (world's largest historically); crude/product export terminal.
9. Mahshahr / Bandar-e Mahshahr (Khuzestan): **Major petrochemical & oil export** (Kharg Island crude loading nearby).
10. Bandar-e Imam Khomeini (Khuzestan): Large general/container/bulk; rail link.
11. Chabahar (Sistan & Baluchestan): **On Gulf of Oman (Indian Ocean)** — *not Persian Gulf*. Strategic deep-water port; India/Iran/Russia INSTC corridor; bypasses Hormuz.
12. Jask (Hormozgan): Gulf of Oman; oil terminal (Goreh-Jask pipeline), naval base.

Strategic Context

**Strait of Hormuz** (21–90 nm wide) chokepoint: ~20% global oil transit. Iranian ports & naval forces dominate northern shore. Port development focuses on sanctions resilience, petrochemical value-add, and north-south corridors.