نشریه مطالعات خلیج فارس
سال ششم شماره 2 (پیاپی 22، پاییز 1399)

The internal vulnerability of countries, on the one hand, and the external regional and trans-regional threats, on the other hand, play a significant role in instability and insecurity at national, regional, and world levels. The sensitive region of the Persian Gulf is no exception in this regard, and a number of internal factors as well as some tensions between the countries in the region could endanger its stability and security. The arrival of some external trans-regional factors in the region can also be threatening and intensify internal problems and external threats as they have already created a serious challenge to the countries on the coasts of the Persian Gulf. Among all the factors which can endanger the political stability and security of the region, the most important one is the great competition among the countries there. The security of the Persian Gulf is one of fundamental international, regional, and national problems of the countries on the coasts of this waterway including Iran. The presence of foreign powers in the region has also increased the complexity of the security of the Persian Gulf. The purpose of this study is to investigate the sustainable security of this waterway and the implementation of regional policies and maintenance of national interests of the countries on its coasts following a descriptive-analytic method and relying on library sources. and the regional policies Through a study of the factors leading to the security and insecurity of the Persian Gulf, the authors conclude that the most important strategy for establishing security there is to concentrate on the model of the equation of relationships between political units based on mutual security plans among all the countries in the Persian Gulf region. This can remove all internal and foreign threats to the security of the Persian Gulf.

Banu Ka’b was one of the important and influential tribes playing a significant role in the relationships between Iran and the Ottoman Empire since the time of the Afsharid Dynasty until the signing of the second Erzurum Treaty during the reign of Mohammad Shah Qajar. Benefitting from the chaotic conditions in Iran during the rule of the inefficient Safavid, Zand, and Qajar governments, Banu Ka’b exploited its own independent rule over Fallahiyyah and some other regions to create some problems both on land and in the sea for Iranian and Ottoman governments and cause unrest on the coasts of the Persian Gulf. Relying on their military power, Banu Ka’b stood against Iranian Kings and the Pashas of Baghdad and Basra, who were appointed by the Ottomans and fought these two governments in the region. On the other hand, the East India Company of England, which was worried about Banu Ka’bs’ dominance over the Persian Gulf, began its enmity against it. Although this tribe dominated a limited area between the two countries and owned only one company, it managed to efficiently defend its territory. Since the members of Banu Ka’b lived in Iran and were Shi’ites, they were considered to be Iranian. Moreover, during the reign of the Afsharid and Zand dynasties, they mainly attacked Basra in the realm of the Ottoman Empire and the British East India Company. They also participated in Iranian Kings’ military campaigns against the Ottomans. After the disagreement between Iran and the Ottoman Empire during the Qajar period, the establishment of boundaries based on Erzurum treaties, and clarifying the status of border tribes, Banu Ka’b accepted the Iranian nationality because of their greater shared political and religious values and characteristics with Iranians.

In order to make any decision in the realm of foreign policy, it is necessary to learn about external realities, internal capabilities, and potential costs and advantages. Accordingly, strategic environment analysis in foreign policy is a fundamental necessity. Environment analysis also facilitates foresight and prevents the occurrence of unexpected conditions and incidents. The issues in relation to the Persian Gulf region, with its internal profound historical, cultural, political, and economic ties and geographical connections, are of great importance to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Following an analytic-descriptive method and benefitting from the scientific methods and tools of environment analysis, this paper intends to provide a convenient answer to the question of what an appropriate model for environment analysis in the Persian Gulf region could be. Accordingly, by resorting to a number of historical and cultural factors and elements of economic dependence and competitions among regional and trans-regional powers, the author introduces the of PESTEI Analysis Model, embracing political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and international behaviors, as an appropriate model for analyzing environmental changes.

The harbors of the coasts of Oman always hosted the ships which did business on the way from the Persian Gulf to India and East Africa. The port of Qalhat was one of the most famous and important cities of this region between the fifth and tenth centuries ( AH) due to the greater presence of Iranians and the large volume of financial transactions there. The main focus of this study is to introduce this port and examine its period of economic life and place in the commercial transactions in the Persian Gulf. The required data for this study were collected following a descriptive-analytic method and using library sources. The findings of the study indicate that the port of Qalhat flourished and prospered between the seventh and tenth centuries during the reign of Ormus ( Hormuz) kings and played such a significant role in procuring goods and financial transactions at that time that it has been referred to as the second capital of the Ormus Kingdom. At the outset of the 10th century, upon the landing of the Portuguese on the coasts of Oman and their destruction of this port, its commercial status declined, and it gradually disappeared from the economic scene of Oman and the Persian Gulf.

Khuzestan is one of the oldest origins of human civilizations and holds a supreme place in the realm of the production of various agricultural crops and products and commercial and economic relationships and exchanges. One of the influential tribes on the coasts of Khuzestan was Banu Ka’b, the emigration of this tribe from Qaban to the coasts of Khuzestan resulted in the flourishing of agricultural products and the creation of appropriate commercial and economic cradles there. Following a descriptive-analytic method, this study investigates the geographical status of Khuzestan, the history of the economic and commercial activities of Banu Ka’b on the coasts and of this province, and the role of this tribe in the economy of this region. The findings of the study reveal that, given the dominance and influence of Banu Ka’b in the areas around Karun River and the Persian Gulf region, the business of handicrafts and commercial and agricultural products, which were exported from the ports of Khuzestan to Arab countries, India, Europe, and America, greatly flourished and thrived during this time.

The name of Persian Gulf is one of the oldest names which has been used to refer to the waterway between Iran and Arabian Peninsula since centuries before Islam. When Man started historiography, they called it using different names including “Pars Sea”, “Fars Sea”, and the Persian Gulf. In spite of several political efforts to change its name, many documents, proofs, and historical maps confirm that its original name is the Persian Gulf. In the 16th century and at the beginning of the Renaissance, Europeans had great achievements in several sciences including geography and cartography. Following a descriptive-analytic method and relying on library documents and sources, this study investigates the name of the Persian Gulf in some of the maps developed by European world travelers in the 16th century. The findings of the study indicate that the name of the Persian Gulf has been written differently in European maps. In eight cases it is called “Sinus Perscicus”; in one case “Mar Persio”, and in one case “Golfo Persico”, all demonstrating the fact that this historical waterway has always been called the Persian Gulf.