Aboomoosa Island (Abu Musa) City

The township of Abumoosa comprises of a mass of islands named as, Abumoosa, Tonb-e-Koochak (Small Tonb) and Tonb-e-Bozorg (Greater Tonb), which lie in the southern sector of Hormozgan province. Abumoosa Island is situated at a distance of 222 km. from Bandar Abbas. It experiences a warm and humid climate. Studies reveal that in the first millennium BC., Abumoosa and the other islands in the Pars Sea came under the jurisdiction and control of Iran.

In the years 1151-1165 BC., the Pars Sea and Abumoosa was under the power of the Elamites, and during the Medes this island along with other islands were governed by one of the provinces of the southwest and a part of Kerman. In the year 138-171 BC., during the Parthian period and the reign of Mehrdad I, Abumoosa came under the realm of this dynasty. Also during the Sassanid dynasty, when the Iranians held control here.

In the Omaya caliphate and Abbaside era this held good when their respective commanders controlled the vicinity. In the year 323 AH., Emad-ud-Dowleh Daylami, occupied the ports and islands of the Persian Gulf including the Abumoosa Island. During the Al-e-Booyeh reign all the ports and islands of the Persian Gulf came under their strong hold, and till the year 538 AH. this island was dominated by the Saljuqi dynasty of Kerman, and ruled by the local rulers of Bani Qeisar.

In his conquests Teimoor Gurgani annexed the ports and islands of this vicinity including Abumoosa to the territories formerly in his occupation. In the reign of Shah Abbas Safavid the Portuguese took control of Abumoosa, and in the year 1179 AH., Karim Khan Zand sought control of this island and other islands of the Persian Gulf. Aqa Mohammad Khan Qajar also gained supremacy regarding the islands and Abumoosa.

In the late 19th century the British government entered the scene on the pretext of driving out the pirates from the Persian Gulf region, standing against the sale of slaves, and protecting the security of India. Thus the British government naval force forbade the Iranian militia from taking part in sea-faring procedures. After which the Sheikh of Sharjah (aided by the British government) claimed possession of this island, but in the year 1971 the Island of Abumoosa came under the full control of the Iranian Navy.