By Mohammad Khatibi

Strait of Hormuz, China’s imperative for deeper engagement in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – Beijing’s growing dependence on Persian Gulf oil and its aspiration to play mediator in the West Asia disputes collide in the narrow waters of the Strait of Hormuz. As more than 40% of China’s crude shipments flow through this chokepoint, how China maneuvers its ambitions without sparking a direct clash has become a vital barometer of its evolving global role.

Minab’s harvest festival fuses tradition and nature

TEHRAN - Minab in southern Iran’s Hormozgan province hosted a thanksgiving harvest festival dedicated to mangoes and jasmine from September 2 to 4.

Iran denounces Arab states’ claim to Persian Gulf Islands, Arash gas field 

TEHRAN – Iran has strongly reiterated its sovereignty over the three Persian Gulf islands—Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb—its rights to the Arash gas field, and the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, responding to recent claims by the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Bushehr province, one of top marine tourism destinations

TEHRAN--Bushehr province, with more than 900 kilometers of coastline along the Persian Gulf, is one of the most important marine tourism destinations in Iran. With its beautiful beaches, historical ports, and marine biodiversity, this province has great potential for developing sustainable marine tourism.

Persian Gulf islands

TEHRAN—Persian Gulf is the warmest body of water in the world. In spite of its salty water, there are 200 freshwater springs on the floor and 25 completely fresh springs on the shores of the Persian sea, which originate from Zagros mountains.

6,000-year-old fishing village reveals ancient maritime diet and fishing technology in Iran’s Makran

TEHRAN - Archaeologists working at the Koupal site in Dashtyari county, southeast Iran, have uncovered remarkable evidence of a 6,000-year-old fishing settlement, providing detailed insights into ancient maritime subsistence strategies.

Intl. Conference on Persian Gulf oceanography slated for January

TEHRAN – The sixth international conference on the Persian Gulf oceanography is scheduled to be held on January 27 and 28, 2026.

Shiraz emerges as key health tourism hub

TEHRAN – Shiraz, one of Iran’s main cultural and tourism destinations, has become a leading center for regional medical tourism, local and national officials said.

Iran seizes tanker carrying 2 million liters of smuggled fuel in Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – In a blow to organized fuel smuggling networks, Iranian Border Guard Commander Brigadier General Ahmadali Goudarzi announced the interception of an oil tanker carrying 2,030,755 liters of illicit diesel in the Persian Gulf’s exclusive economic zone.

Discover Qeshm, the largest island of the Persian Gulf

TEHRAN - Qeshm Island, the largest island in the Persian Gulf, is where natural wonders, strategic geography, and ancient culture intersect.

Flydubai is to resume international flights at Bushehr airport

TEHRAN - Flydubai airline will resume international flights to and from Bushehr airport starting Saturday, the airport’s director announced on Thursday.

Iran Navy, Air Defense thwart US warship incursion near territorial waters

TEHRAN – Iranian forces repelled the U.S. destroyer DDG Fitzgerald from approaching Iran's monitored waters in the Oman Sea early Wednesday.

Iranian Navy prevents British warship from entering Persian Gulf amid suspected Israeli coordination

TEHRAN – The Iranian Navy announced that it stopped a British destroyer in the Sea of Oman after the vessel entered the region to assist the Zionist regime in guiding missile strikes toward Iranian territory.

Iran seizes four tankers in anti-smuggling operation

TEHRAN – Iranian naval forces have seized four tankers in the Persian Gulf, thwarting an attempt to smuggle thousands of liters of oil.

Groundbreaking discovery in northern Persian Gulf sheds new light on early human migration

TEHRAN - A major archaeological discovery in the northern hinterlands of the Persian Gulf is transforming our understanding of early human migration into Asia.

Lost history of ‘Sindbad and Sheila’ in ancient Siraf port

TEHRAN — Siraf, a historic port located in Iran’s southern Bushehr province along the Persian Gulf, holds a deep and often overlooked connection to global storytelling.

Sohaili Village: a culinary jewel in Qeshm Island

TEHRAN – Located along the southern coast of Iran’s Qeshm Island, Sohaili Village has carved out a reputation as one of the Persian Gulf’s premier destinations for culinary tourism.

Iranian minister calls for renewed regional cooperation at ECO tourism symposium

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister has called for a renewed approach to regional cooperation among the member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), emphasizing deeper people-to-people ties and cultural exchange as the driving force behind sustainable tourism development in the region.

Shahid Bahonar Port: strategic overview, operational capabilities

TEHRAN- Shahid Bahonar Port is located in Hormozgan province, within Bandar Abbas county, on the northern coast of the Persian Gulf.

‘Iran ready to respond decisively to any threat,’ military chief vows while inspecting Persian Gulf

TEHRAN – Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, conducted a high-profile inspection of naval units in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, declaring: "The Armed Forces are ready to respond decisively to any threat."

Paleolithic evidence discovered on Iran’s Makran coast

TEHRAN - A team of archaeologists, led by Dr. Morteza Hessari, has succeeded in discovering stone artifacts from the Paleolithic era on the Makran coast in Sistan-Baluchestan province.

By Mona Hojat Ansari 

Persian Gulf: Our waters, our lands

TEHRAN – A land or body of water can hold diverse meanings. The Persian Gulf, for example, is a vital waterway for global oil transport, an exotic destination for tourists, and a geostrategic location for military forces. But for those who have thrived along its shores for thousands of years, it's a heritage, heritage so deeply ingrained, so fiercely its own, that no flood of propaganda or political maneuvering can ever truly wash it away.

Pakistani investors express readiness to invest in Kish Island

TEHRAN— A number of Pakistani investors have expressed their readiness to start administrative cooperation with Kish Island in the south of Iran during their trip to the touristic island.