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Abu Musa Island

Other Name: N/A
Location: Abu Musa Island
Subordinate To: Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps
Size: Unknown
Facility Status: Operational

Abu Musa Island is strategically located in the bottleneck of the Strait of Hormuz. Since the 1980s, Iran has installed launch pads for advanced anti-ship missiles on the island. [1] According to Jane's Defense Weekly, "the launchers and associated radar for these missiles are probably housed along the north end of the island, where satellite images depict a number of revetments (possibly lined with concrete) forming a tunnel around a large hill." [2] However, Iran is believed to keep most of the missiles in storage onshore, ready for deployment when needed.[3] The Asia Times has also reported Iranian deployment of supersonic cruise missiles such as the Yakonts, Moskits, Granits, and Brahmos on Abu Musa. [4]

Sources:
[1] David Eshel, "Hormuz Straits Come Into Focus as Gulf Tension Mounts," Defense Update, 19 April 2007, www.defense-update.com.
[2] Clifford Beal, "Uncovered: Iran's Abu Musa Island," Jane's Defence Weekly, 8 March 2000, www.janes.com.
[3] David Hartwell and Allison Puccioni, "Island Fortresses - Abu Musa and Greater Tunb," Jane's Intelligence Review, 14 August 2009, www.janes.com.
[4] Victor N. Corpus, "Part I: Striking the U.S. where it Hurts," Asia Times, 19 October 2006, www.atimes.com.
 

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This material is produced independently for NTI by the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of and has not been independently verified by NTI or its directors, officers, employees, or agents. Copyright © 2011 by MIIS.

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