Drawing on indigenous knowledge, overcoming sanctions, safeguarding a sea-based economy, and playing an active role in the emerging world order, this force has sketched out a new architecture of national power.

The 7th of Azar (November 28) recalls the brave men who, during the Sacred Defense, inscribed the true meaning of maritime power—figures such as Martyr Nader Mahdavi, who came to embody Iranian resolve, faith, and honor, and who opened a new path for the country’s naval strength. For decades, the West operated under the mistaken belief that sanctions and pressure would force Iran into retreat, targeting its military and defense sectors accordingly. The result, however, was the opposite. Young Iranians in the Army and the IRGC, relying on indigenous expertise and the ethos of “will and capability,” built a structure that turned sanctions not into a threat but into an opportunity for innovation and self-reliance.

During the “12-day war,” the Israeli regime and the United States effectively witnessed the failure of their 20-year strategic planning—a failure to which Iran’s maritime deterrent power contributed significantly. The strong presence of Iranian naval vessels above and below the surface, the development of indigenous warships, and the Navy’s emergence as a world-class actor have compelled even major powers to account for Iran’s capabilities in their security assessments. Today, should “the sea issue its command,” the decision-making arena lies with Iran.

Iran’s Geopolitics and End of Western Dominance in Persian Gulf

With its long coastlines on the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Iran naturally requires a powerful and coherent navy. Throughout world history, no power has become a global actor without a capable naval force. By strengthening its capabilities in this domain, Iran has altered regional geopolitical calculations to the extent that the once-unrestricted presence of American and Western warships in the Persian Gulf has become a thing of the past.

American analysts have repeatedly warned that any offensive action against Iran must be launched from long distances, as U.S. fleets near Iran’s borders lack the capacity to withstand Iran’s maritime power. This shift in balance reflects a transfer of power across the region’s waterways and highlights Iran’s growing role in shaping the security framework of the Persian Gulf.

A Message of Peace: Indigenous Security Instead of Foreign Dependency

Iran has consistently considered regional security an extension of its own national security, and within this framework has pursued counterterrorism and the establishment of lasting stability. In contrast to the United States—which entered the region under the claim of “providing security” but in practice pursued rent-seeking and instability—Iran emphasizes defensive convergence among neighboring states.

The “Hormuz Peace Initiative” embodies this outlook—a plan centered on collective cooperation and the withdrawal of foreign forces from the region. At a time when the United States’ conduct in recent developments in Qatar has shown it is not a reliable ally, and the Israeli regime continues to inflame the region with constant threats, Iran’s indigenous naval capabilities have played a major role in ensuring lasting security in the southern Persian Gulf. The participation of regional countries in Iran’s maritime-based cooperation could pave the way for a future grounded in indigenous security, economic growth, and durable stability.

A Sea-Based Economy and Iran’s Role in the Emerging Global Order

Despite advances in land and air transport, today’s world remains heavily dependent on the sea. Trade routes, energy shipment, and the security of transit corridors all require a capable navy. Through its active role in combating piracy, securing oil tankers, and supporting the commercial activities of various countries, Iran has demonstrated that sanctions cannot hinder its economic engagement.

The development of a sea-based economy along the Makran and Chabahar coasts is a clear example of the link between maritime security and national economic development. The Army Navy’s presence in international waterways, the IRGC’s confrontations with U.S. fleet threats, and the protection of the Persian Gulf environment through the seizure of polluting tankers have enhanced Iran’s credibility as a global partner in sea-based economic activity.

On the global stage, Iran’s cooperation with China and Russia, participation in joint drills, active presence in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS, and bilateral maritime agreements all show that the Navy has become one of Iran’s primary instruments for influencing the emerging global order—a multipolar order grounded in indigenous capability and defensive independence.