As joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran escalate tensions in the Middle East, global attention has shifted to the Strait of Hormuz – a narrow but critical waterway that carries a significant share of the world’s energy supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz connects the oil-rich Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean and lies between Iran and the Omani exclave of Musandam. At only about 50 kilometers (30 mi) wide and no deeper than 60 meters (200 ft) in places, the strait is geographically vulnerable to military encroachment.
Several strategically important islands line the waterway, including Iran’s Hormuz, Qeshm and Larak. It is also home to the disputed islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, which have been under Iranian control since 1971 and offer Tehran a commanding position over passing ships.
The world’s energy choke point
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway dotted with key islands, including Iran’s Hormuz, Qeshm and Larak, as well as the disputed Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa islands under Iranian control since 1971.
Described by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) as one of the world’s most important oil hubs, the strait handles about 20 million barrels of oil a day – roughly a fifth of global consumption – and about one fifth of global LNG trade, mainly from Qatar.
Over 80% of shipments through the strait go to Asian markets, with China buying more than 90% of Iran’s oil exports. While Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have limited bypass routes, their combined alternative capacity of about 2.6 million barrels per day is well below the total flows through Hormuz.
Tehran holds the Hormuz card in the escalating crisis
Iran has long used the Strait of Hormuz as a geopolitical pressure point and has repeatedly threatened to close it during crises. A senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned again in January that Tehran could close the waterway if attacked.
Despite frequent threats, Iran has never fully blocked the strait. However, it briefly restricted access during military exercises and has been involved in ship seizures and harassment incidents in recent years.
Naval operations in the area are managed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which oversees Iran’s asymmetric naval capabilities.
Incidents in the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz has long been a focus of geopolitical tensions and maritime confrontations.
1973: Arab oil producers embargo Western supporters of Israel, underscoring the strategic importance of Gulf energy routes.
1980–1988 “Tanker War”: During the Iran-Iraq War, both sides targeted oil tankers; more than 500 vessels were damaged or destroyed.
1988: The USS Samuel B. Roberts struck an Iranian mine, and later that year a US warship shot down a plane, killing 290 people.
2012: Iran threatened to block the strait in response to US and European sanctions.
After 2018: Tensions rise after the US withdraws from the Iran nuclear deal and reimposes sanctions.
2019: Several vessels were targeted near the UAE coast, raising concerns about an escalation between the US and Iran.
2021: A tanker associated with an Israeli company was attacked in the Gulf of Oman.
2023-2024: Iran seized several vessels near or in the strait, including the MSC Aries in April 2024.
Read also | Strait of Hormuz crisis: Oil companies suspend supplies amid US-Israeli strikes
Why it matters now
With US-Israeli strikes targeting Iran and Tehran warning of retaliation, the possibility of a breach in the Strait of Hormuz has revived fears of global energy shocks.
Any shutdown or major crackdown could send oil and gas prices soaring, strain global supply chains and hit energy-importing economies — especially in Asia — hardest.
In times of heightened military conflict, the Strait of Hormuz remains not only a regional flashpoint, but also a fundamental pillar of global energy security.
Read also | Will oil prices reach $100? What will be the economic impact of the US-Israeli attack?
