Persian Gulf

• 10 Oct 2022

Key Points

• Physical Geography:
  • An arm of the Arabian Sea; between the southwestern Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.
  • Bordering Countries: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman (Musandam exclave) and Iran.
  • Connected to the Gulf of Oman in the east by the Strait of Hormuz.
    • The Strait of Hormuz is situated between Qeshm Island and the Iranian coast in the north and the Musandam Peninsula of the Arabian Peninsula in the south.
• Strategic Importance:
  • Persian Gulf countries are major producers of crude oil and natural gas.
  • Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia are members of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries).
  • United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
• Recent Related Events:
  • Chabahar Port
  • Farzad-B Gas Field