ALWAGHT- Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, commander of the Iranian Navy, cautioned that adversarial states are implementing strategies designed to constrain global maritime corridors and marginalize Iran’s participation in them.
Iranian Navy Commander Rear Admiral Shahram Irani has urged greater focus on the country’s access to international sea routes, warning that hostile powers are seeking to restrict global maritime corridors and marginalize Iran’s role. Speaking at a conference on the draft of Iran’s maritime development blueprint, Irani said the “enemy’s main strategy today is to limit the corridors and monopolize their use while excluding Iran.”
The commander noted that while national plans have consistently prioritized the North–South Corridor, East–West maritime routes have received insufficient attention. He called for stronger emphasis on developing maritime logistics hubs along Iran’s southern coast to enhance trade, regional influence, and economic resilience. “We must anticipate and counter these designs through self-reliance, technological advancement, and regional cooperation,” he said.
Irani also highlighted Iran’s strategic geography, with access to both the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, as a natural gateway to key international trade routes connecting Asia, Africa, and Europe. Strengthening these connections, he added, is vital to positioning Iran as a pivotal link in both North–South and East–West maritime corridors.
The Navy chief emphasized that maritime diplomacy and regional collaboration are equally important. Engaging neighboring countries in maritime security, joint infrastructure projects, and environmental protection initiatives, he said, will help safeguard Iran’s long-term interests at sea. “Our future depends on the seas, and protecting our maritime interests is as vital as defending our land borders,” Irani concluded.
