The islands of Abu Musa, Greater Tunb and Lesser Tunb sit along the deep-water shipping channel linking the Persian Gulf to the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas supplies move during peacetime. Their military value has drawn renewed attention after recent U.S. strikes on Abu Musa and Greater Tunb.

The attacks have reignited debate over whether the islands could become targets for broader military operations as Washington expands its campaign against Iran.

Small islands hold critical position over global shipping

Together, the three islands cover only about 10 square miles (25 square kilometers), but their location allows Iran to monitor and potentially influence maritime traffic through one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints.

Abu Musa, the largest of the islands, includes a small village but primarily serves as a base for Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Iranian forces have deployed fast attack boats, missile systems and air defenses there. Greater Tunb also hosts military installations and air defense systems, while the smaller Lesser Tunb maintains a military presence.

Iran seized the islands by force on Nov. 30, 1971, under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, two days before the United Arab Emirates was established. At the time, the shah, then Washington’s principal security partner in the region, faced little international opposition.

Long history of military operations

Following Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, the islands became key military positions during the “Tanker War” of the 1980s, when Iranian forces targeted commercial shipping and the U.S. Navy escorted oil tankers through the Gulf.

Iran used the islands to monitor vessel movements, deploy naval mines and launch attacks against ships. U.S. estimates indicate Iran attacked more than 160 vessels during that conflict.

In the current war, the Joint Maritime Information Center, a coalition overseen by the U.S. Navy, has recorded more than 50 attacks involving commercial vessels and oil infrastructure. The incidents include cases in which U.S. forces fired on ships accused of attempting to breach Washington’s blockade on Iran.

Military analysts weigh operational risks

The recent U.S. strikes have fueled speculation over whether American forces could attempt to seize the islands.

Isabel Oakeshott, a columnist for The Telegraph, described Abu Musa as “a fixed aircraft carrier” for Iran, arguing that the islands collectively function as “a layered denial system to the most critical energy chokepoint in the world.”

Analysts caution, however, that while U.S. forces may have the capability to capture the islands, maintaining control could prove considerably more difficult.

Brandon Carr, an analyst at the Washington-based Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, said American troops operating there would remain vulnerable to Iranian missile and drone attacks.

“Without prepared, hardened fortifications to provide cover — even with air support from nearby naval assets — force protection would be an enormous challenge,” Carr said.

“The Marines would come under fire from Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, severely limiting their ability to project power into the strait.”

Territorial dispute remains unresolved

The sovereignty dispute over the islands has continued for decades alongside their military importance.

In recent years, the United Arab Emirates persuaded both China and Russia to include language in joint statements supporting a resolution of the dispute through negotiations or international legal mechanisms, a position that drew sharp criticism from Tehran.

Emirati legal scholar Noora Mohamed Al Murry argued in April that the dispute extends beyond territorial claims to the security of a critical international waterway.

“What the world called a bilateral territorial dispute was, from the beginning, a strategic claim on a global chokepoint,” she wrote.

“Managed ambiguity, in a waterway this consequential, is not a neutral position. It is a choice with a price, and the world is now holding the invoice.”

Oakeshott suggested the UAE could seek renewed efforts to regain the islands after the conflict, particularly as the country hosts U.S. military forces and has repeatedly come under Iranian fire during the war.

More than five decades after Iran seized the islands, their strategic position continues to shape regional security calculations and global concerns over the uninterrupted flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz.

This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.

Article Topics: Strait of Hormuz | Iran | United Arab Emirates | Persian Gulf | Maritime Security | Energy Security | U.S.-Iran Conflict | Territorial Dispute

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Last week, US President Donald Trump’s whirlwind tour of the Middle East sparked a wave of AI deals that could reshape the future of global technology — and America’s place at the forefront.

Big AI Moves in the Gulf

On May 12, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced the launch of Humain, a new AI startup. Major US tech giants like Nvidia, AMD, and Qualcomm jumped in with agreements to supply chips and support AI infrastructure for the venture.

The Trump administration also moved to scrap and replace a Biden-era rule — known as the “AI Diffusion” regulation — which would have capped sales of the most advanced AI chips starting May 15. This change clears the way for more chip exports to international partners.

In a headline-grabbing finale to the tour, the US and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) revealed a partnership to build a massive data center complex in Abu Dhabi. The planned 5-gigawatt facility would be the largest data center cluster outside the US — a huge deal in the world where data centers power AI breakthroughs. To put it in perspective, the global total capacity for data centers is about 59 gigawatts.

President Trump also announced that Saudi Arabia and the UAE will invest in US-based data centers, reinforcing a two-way partnership.

Speaking in Abu Dhabi, Trump said, “We’ve agreed to create a path for the UAE to buy some of the world’s most advanced AI semiconductors from American companies.”

A Game-Changer for the AI Race

Experts see these deals as a potential turning point in the fierce AI competition between the US and China. AI czar David Sacks called the agreements a “game-changer” on social media, saying they “will help cement American technology as the global standard before competitors catch up.”

AI requires enormous computing power — known as “compute” — which in turn demands huge energy resources. Mohammed Soliman, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, explains, “The US has a real challenge powering its own data centers because of energy constraints.”

Partnering with energy-rich Gulf countries, Soliman argues, could provide a vital strategic boost. “Building out energy infrastructure in the US will take time and massive investment. Meanwhile, the Gulf’s energy can help power this AI revolution now.”

Concerns Over Security Risks

However, some worry about the security risks of sending advanced chips to the Gulf. A group of leading Democrats warned that without strong safeguards, these deals could pose “an immediate national security threat.” They fear that Saudi and Emirati firms might use the chips for sensitive projects — including autonomous weapons — or that technology could eventually fall into China’s hands.

Still, analysts say if US companies control the data centers directly, the risks are reduced.

US officials argue that working with the Gulf is better than pushing these countries into a closer alliance with China, whose companies like Huawei are rapidly advancing in AI chip technology. As David Sacks put it, “If we reject them, we will drive them into China’s arms.”

The Gulf’s Growing AI Ambitions

Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE have big plans to build AI industries as they prepare for a future less dependent on oil. If they successfully use these chips to develop cutting-edge AI models, the Gulf could emerge as a new heavyweight in the global AI race — potentially becoming the “third-biggest power” after the US and China, according to expert Sam Winter-Levy.

That said, the Gulf currently faces challenges such as a shortage of AI talent, which might slow its rise.

A New Chapter in US-Gulf Relations

This wave of AI deals marks a shift in the US-Gulf partnership — one now defined more by technology than oil.

“It’s no longer about crude oil; it’s about compute power,” says Soliman. But he also warns that if too much US computing power ends up in the region, Gulf governments could gain influence over American tech firms and even US foreign policy.

Meanwhile, Democrats urge the US government to ensure these investments help build America’s own AI industry first and foremost, keeping critical technology development at home.

Source: CNN – Will ‘massive’ Gulf deals cement the US lead in the race for global AI dominance?

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