Strait of Hormuz
The world's most critical oil chokepoint — 21% of global petroleum consumption transits this 21-mile-wide passage between Iran and Oman. Iran controls the northern shore and has mined, blockaded, or threatened closure during every major confrontation since 1984. Current crisis has collapsed transit volume ~90% from pre-crisis levels with 138-147 container ships stranded.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, bounded by Iran to the north and the UAE/Oman to the south. At its narrowest point, navigable shipping lanes are approximately 3 miles wide in each direction, separated by a 2-mile buffer zone.
Approximately 20-21 million barrels of oil per day transit the strait under normal conditions — roughly 20-21% of global petroleum consumption. This makes it the single most important chokepoint in global energy infrastructure. Qatar, the world’s largest LNG exporter, depends entirely on Hormuz for its tanker traffic.
Iran has repeatedly demonstrated the capability and willingness to threaten this passage. During the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War (the “Tanker War”), Iran mined the strait and attacked commercial shipping. The IRGC Navy maintains a dedicated fast-attack craft doctrine designed specifically for swarming operations in the strait’s confined waters, supplemented by shore-based anti-ship cruise missiles positioned along the Iranian coastline.
In the current crisis, strait traffic has collapsed approximately 90% from pre-crisis levels. P&I insurance for vessels transiting the strait has been terminated by major underwriters, effectively making commercial transit economically unviable even where physically possible. Over 140 container ships remain stranded awaiting passage.