<p>Ports play a pivotal role in the global transportation, economy, and trade landscape owing to the multitude of benefits they offer in today’s world. Efficiency emerges as a critical factor in achieving a competitive edge in the international arena. Consequently, employing an appropriate model for port performance evaluation becomes imperative. Port performance evaluation serves as a suitable management tool. This study delves into the most applicable methods for port performance evaluation. After understanding the network structure of ports and examining the criteria influencing port efficiency, a comprehensive evaluation framework is proposed, encompassing aggressive, benevolent, and conservative perspectives. The network structure is modeled as a two-stage process. The first stage focuses on physical infrastructure, while the second stage incorporates discharge and loading operations. The decision-maker can then select the most suitable approach considering the policies of the decision makers. The network DEA models were implemented using GAMS. The efficiency of the ports included in the case study was then compared based on the three proposed DEA approaches through the cross-efficiency method. The modeling results indicate that Shahid Rajaee Port ranks first across all three approaches while Abadan and Amir Abad are among the least efficient. Moreover, a detailed slack analysis was conducted to identify precisely which inputs require reduction and which outputs need improvement at each stage of the network, providing deeper insights for targeted operational enhancements and strategic planning.</p>