An Exploration into Historical Obstacles to Marine Development of Northern Shores and Hinterlands of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Makran: Emphasizing Geostrategic Position of These Two Bodies of Water

The Persian Gulf and the Sea of Makran are two bodies of water with great strategic, economic, and logistic importance. Despite the undeniable privileges of these areas, northern shores and hinterlands of them are suffering from underdevelopment. These bodies of water have always been among the prosperous areas in the distant past, especially in ancient Iran and post-Islamic Iran, considering the major role of Iranians in maritime trade. The main objective of this study was to identify the obstacles to the development of these areas over the past two centuries. Identification of these obstacles can provide a basis for current and future policymaking. There are two main reasons for the underdevelopment of these areas. The first reason is the low volume of investment, which is influenced by various political, historical, economic, cultural, and environmental factors. The second reason is the intervention of foreign states in these areas. An example of such interventions is the capture of important Iranian ports, destruction of the Iranian navy, and the imposition of deliberate economic pressure over the last two centuries, especially by the British government. These interventions have led to the depopulation of the southern coasts of Iran and, as a result, underdevelopment of the surrounding areas. The above-mentioned items continue to act as obstacles to the development of these areas. For instance, the presence of trans-regional forces has prevented the cooperation and integration of the Countries bordering the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Makran.