Iran war: 10 frequently used words and their meanings

Nearly two months into the US–Israel war on Iran, the conflict has killed thousands of people and disrupted major energy flows. At the centre of the crisis is the Strait of Hormuz, the vital chokepoint where about 20 percent of the world’s oil supplies normally flow, which has been repeatedly restricted or threatened with closure by both parties, Iran and the US. During the war, many of the words and terms dominating the headlines carry deeper historical, religious, or political meanings.

Here are ten key terms shaping the language of the war and what they mean. The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, connecting the Gulf to the Arabian Sea. It is one of the most strategically important maritime routes in the world.

Since the start of the war, access to the strait has been heavily restricted, with periods of partial or near-total closure. The exact origin of the name Hormuz is contested; however, the most widely accepted theory links it to the Middle Persian form of “Ahura Mazda,” the supreme deity in Zoroastrianism, whose name means “Wise Lord” or “Lord of Wisdom.” This connection may date back to the Sasanian period or earlier stages of Persian linguistic development. Less widely accepted theories suggest alternative origins, including a local Persian derivation combining “hur” (stagnant water or marsh) and “mogh” (date palm), implying a “place of dates”, or a possible link to the Greek word “hormos” meaning “cove” or “bay.” Historically, the Kingdom of Hormuz, a minor state in the medieval period, was believed to be a wealthy maritime kingdom centred around the present-day Strait of Hormuz, with influence extending westward towards Bahrain.

Shahed drones are Iran’s low-cost loitering munitions, often described as “kamikaze drones” or unmanned aerial vehicles that carry an explosive payload while relying on relatively simple, low-tech components. Iran has used them since the beginning of the war to target Israel and Gulf countries. These drones typically fly at low altitudes and are often launched in large swarms to overwhelm air defences, forcing costly interception efforts.

The word “Shahed” is of Arabic origin and means “witness.” While the word is originally Arabic, it is also fully integrated into the Persian language, Farsi, where it carries the same meaning. Originally, the word “tomahawk” referred to a versatile, single-handed axe or hatchet historically used by Indigenous peoples of North America for hunting, woodworking and combat. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the term comes from an Algonquian language (often cited as Powhatan tamahaac), meaning “a cutting tool” or “that which is used for cutting”.

In modern military usage, it refers to the Tomahawk cruise missile, a long-range, all-weather missile developed by the United States. Considered one of the world’s most precise cruise missiles, it can strike targets from over a thousand miles away. Rights groups have suggested that a Tomahawk missile likely struck a school in Minab in Iran early in the war, killing close to 170 children.