Qeshm, An Open Air Geological Museum, Is Now An Underground Missile City Controlling Strait Of Hormuz

Last Updated:March 17, 2026, 18:19 IST

Known as an "open-air geological museum" for its surreal natural formations, Qeshm has transformed into a formidable "underground missile city" designed to control Strait of Hormuz

Qeshm Island, the largest in the Persian Gulf, is currently a critical “strategic ground zero" in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US-Israel coalition.

On March 7, 2026, US air strikes targeted a desalination plant on the island, cutting off water to 30 villages; the IRGC retaliated with strikes against US forces in Bahrain.

Historically known as an “open-air geological museum" for its surreal natural formations, it has been transformed into a formidable “underground missile city" designed to control the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera and other media reports.

Why Qeshm is called a geological marvel

Before its military transformation, Qeshm was primarily celebrated for its unique ecology and ancient sites:

Qeshm Geopark: The first of its kind in the region to be recognised by UNESCO (2006), featuring landscape-altering erosion.

Namakdan Salt Cave: One of the world’s longest salt caves (over 6km), housing crystalline formations hundreds of millions of years old.

Valley of Stars: A network of canyons and rock pillars carved by millennia of wind and water, which local legend says was formed by a fallen star.

Hara Mangrove Forest: A vital breeding ground for migratory birds and a major centre for local tourism.

Tala (Gold) Wells: In Laft village, these 366 wells were dug approximately 2,000 years ago to collect rainwater.

The missile fortress

Military experts describe Qeshm as a “strategic anchor" with vast underground capabilities:

Deeply buried tunnel networks carved into limestone and salt, housing anti-ship cruise missiles and long-range ballistic units.

The island’s location allows it to act as a “cork" in the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most vital energy transit passage.

These facilities are reportedly reinforced with earthquake-proof concrete and equipped with ventilation, emergency power, and rail systems for rapid missile movement.

The arsenal at Qeshm

While specific inventory is classified, military analysts and Iranian state media have identified several key weapon systems housed within Qeshm’s subterranean “cities":

Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles: These are the “teeth" of the island, designed to target naval vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Others include the Gada 380 (range >1,000 km) and Chinese-origin HY-2 “Silkworm" missiles, according to Al Jazeera and other reports.

Ballistic Missiles: Qeshm reportedly stores both solid- and liquid-fuel ballistic missiles.

Key systems include:

Qiam-1: A liquid-fuelled missile (800 km range) designed for launch from underground silos.

Khaybar Shekan: A high-speed, maneuverable solid-fuel missile.

Ghadr & Emad: Medium-range variants used for regional deterrence.

Precision-Guided Weapons: Recent unveilings emphasise “thousands" of precision-strike missiles intended to counter electronic warfare.

Underground “Floating Cities": Beyond missiles, the IRGC maintains hidden naval bases housing dozens of small, missile-armed fast-attack craft.

How Qeshm is controlling the Strait of Hormuz

Qeshm is strategically located just 22 km south of the port city of Bandar Abbas, dominating the Clarence Strait. Analysts describe the island as an underground “missile city" housing extensive networks of coastal batteries and fast-attack boats. These hidden capabilities are designed to provide Iran with “striking" naval power to effectively monitor or, if necessary, close the strait, according to media reports.

Its geography allows small IRGC boats to dart out from the southern coastline to deploy sea mines in the strait’s shallow, 200-foot-deep waters, reported Al Jazeera.

Rather than a total blockade, Iran is using the island to enforce a political “green light" system for shipping, say reports. Recent reports indicate that ships seeking safe passage must now follow a specific route that involves calling between the islands of Larak and Qeshm. This detour functions as a verification process where vessels—such as those from India, Turkey, and Pakistan—must be approved by Tehran to transit.

Experts from the EOS Risk Group note that while the strait is not “formally" closed, transit is increasingly dependent on political understandings with Iran, making Qeshm a physical gatekeeper for this “authorized" traffic.

With agency inputs

News explainers Qeshm, An Open Air Geological Museum, Is Now An Underground Missile City Controlling Strait Of Hormuz

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