Historical assessments over the past 2,700 years shown that economic and political relations have developed primarily under strong and authoritative governance., as well as the safeguarding of territorial integrity through the country's seas. Throughout history, destructive invasions have led to the erosion of maritime infrastructure along the coasts, while the "fear of marginalization syndrome" further diverted planners' attention from adequately prioritizing seas and coastlines. However, following the Islamic Revolution—and particularly since the Third Development Plan—attention to the economic, military, and environmental potential of coasts and seas has gradually emerged. The Integrated Coastal Zone Managements (ICZM) initiatives have played a pivotal role in providing spatial data for coastal and marine areas. Moreover, over 20 National Policy Statement and numerous governmental decrees—most notably the Marine-Oriented Development Policies (issued by the Supreme Leader) and the capacities established under the Seventh Development Plan—have laid the necessary groundwork for the implementation of a coordinated, marine-based development strategy. The current era represents the most opportune time for advancing marine-oriented development in the country. Today, marine-based development stands as a symbol of national sovereignty and regional power—one that must not be overlooked. The sea is an integral part of the national land, and in any integrated spatial planning (encompassing both land and sea), six key domains must be addressed prior to executive action: sensitivity assessment, capacity evaluation, compatibility analysis, impact assessment, restoration and rehabilitation, and stakeholder engagement.
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