Maritime Crimes Threatening Regional Security: Iran’s Legal Perspective towards the United Nations’ Holistic Approach

Abstract

Over the past years, Iran's surrounding maritime area in the Middle East and Indian Ocean has encountered with a number of security threats, including piracy and armed robbery at sea, terror acts, illicit trafficking in arms and weapons of mass destruction, human trafficking as well as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and unlawful damage to the marine environment. Piracy and armed, in particular, as the main concerns can undermine local, regional and international security and stability. The following article tries to address the issues, with special focus on the eradication of organized maritime crimes through the international legal framework governed by the United Nations' holistic approach. The study analyzes Iran's own legal perspective on maritime security challenges and the ocean governance contributing to eradicate security threats.To this end, the paper encompasses various aspects and dimensions of the topic from the perspective of international law and the UN stewardship.