[45386] Iran Marks 'Persian Gulf Day' Under the Shadow of Military Tensions
Iran Marks 'Persian Gulf Day' Under the Shadow of Military Tensions
On April 30, 2026, Iran marked 'Persian Gulf Day' with a series of events and official statements that emphasized Tehran's strategic control over the waterways. In a message published on behalf of the Supreme Leader's office, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei declared that the Gulf is a strategic asset that constitutes part of the national identity, and called for a "future without the U.S." in the region, claiming that foreign presence is the primary cause of instability.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, according to the IRNA news agency, emphasized that the security of the Gulf is not a subject for negotiation and placed the responsibility for any security deterioration on the United States and Israel. In accordance with the regime's approach, which emphasizes a distinct anti-Western perception, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated that the identity of the Gulf is historically Iranian and will not change due to external pressures.
As part of a conference held at the National Library in Tehran, IRNA reported that former officials, including former Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri, presented the Gulf as a symbol of "national unity." Simultaneously, claims were made by commentators and former officers, such as Sardar Alaei, that during the "40-day war" mentioned in the current context, American fleets were forced to withdraw from the region, which they say serves as proof of a shift in the regional balance of power.
The IRNA news agency, which represents the official line of the government in Tehran, devoted extensive coverage to the events, incorporating aggressive rhetoric against Washington and Israel. The reports included the use of terms such as "The Great Satan" and calls for the continuation of "resistance" and military strengthening as a tool to ensure Iran's economic and security interests in international waters.