The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran to the north and Oman (including the Musandam exclave) and the United Arab Emirates to the south that links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and, beyond that, the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. It is the only sea exit for the oil‑rich Persian Gulf, and today roughly 20–30 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports pass through this chokepoint ⭐, making it one of the most strategically important shipping lanes in the world.[2][7][8][9][11]
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During the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), the Strait of Hormuz became the focal point of the so‑called “Tanker War,” in which both countries attacked oil tankers and shipping linked to the other side to disrupt exports. Iran, for example, attacked Kuwaiti and Saudi tankers transiting near the strait in the mid‑1980s, prompting those states to seek protection and reflagging agreements with external powers such as the United States. The U.S. Navy intervened to escort tankers and responded militarily when an Iranian mine severely damaged the USS Samuel B. Roberts in 1988, sinking several Iranian vessels in retaliation.[8][6][9]
Despite periodic threats, the strait has not been fully closed, though shipping has been disrupted at various points. In January 2012, for instance, Iran threatened closure in response to Western sanctions, and in 2019 several tankers were attacked near the UAE coast outside the strait, events that highlighted how even localized incidents could unsettle global energy markets.[12][8][9]
Today, the Strait of Hormuz remains central to global energy security: tens of millions of barrels of oil per day and significant volumes of liquefied natural gas move through it, with an estimated 20–30 percent share of world oil consumption. Regional tensions—especially involving Iran, Gulf Arab states, and external powers such as the United States—have made the strait a recurring flashpoint, with naval deployments and incidents involving ships, drones and missiles raising concerns about potential interruptions to traffic. Recent U.S.–Iran and Israel–Iran confrontations have renewed fears that a serious clash could temporarily choke off or severely constrain passage, with immediate implications for oil prices and broader geopolitical stability.[11][13][7][8]
Sources [1] How US-Israel attacks on Iran threaten the Strait of Hormuz, oil markets https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/1/how-us-israel-attacks-on-iran-threaten-the-strait-of-hormuz-oil-markets [2] Strait of Hormuz - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz [3] Struggle for the Strait of Hormuz | History | Research Starters - EBSCO https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/struggle-strait-hormuz [4] What to know about the strategic Strait of Hormuz - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWgX1jnTivM [5] The Strait of Hormuz | Overview, Importance & Facts - Study.com https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-strait-of-hormuz-importance-facts.html [6] History of Strait of Hormuz | Al Majalla https://en.majalla.com/node/70501/history-of-strait-of-hormuz [7] Strait of Hormuz - About the Strait - The Strauss Center https://www.strausscenter.org/strait-of-hormuz-about-the-strait/ [8] Strait of Hormuz | Map, Importance, Conflict and Closure, Control, Oil ... https://www.britannica.com/place/Strait-of-Hormuz [9] What is the Strait of Hormuz and why is it so important for oil? - Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/what-is-strait-hormuz-why-is-it-so-important-oil-2026-02-28/ [10] Why the 24 mile wide Strait of Hormuz is so important in the war with ... https://news.sky.com/story/why-the-24-mile-wide-strait-of-hormuz-is-so-important-in-the-war-with-iran-13513821 [11] Amid regional conflict, the Strait of Hormuz remains critical oil ... - EIA https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=65504 [12] Strait of Hormuz - FAQ - The Strauss Center https://www.strausscenter.org/strait-of-hormuz-faq/ [13] The Strait of Hormuz: A U.S.-Iran Maritime Flash Point - CFR.org https://www.cfr.org/articles/strait-hormuz-us-iran-maritime-flash-point
[14] Map https://caspianpost.com/iran/oil-giants-halt-shipments-through-strait-of-hormuz-amid-iran-u-s-tensions