Strait of Hormuz

Extracted Attributes

• Type

  Strait

• Length

  167 kilometers (104 miles)

• Coordinates

  26.6 N, 56.5 E

• Maximum Width

  97 kilometers (60 miles)

• Daily Oil Flow

  20 million barrels per day (2024 estimate)

• Narrowest Width

  33 kilometers (21 miles)

• Bordering Countries

  Iran, Oman, United Arab Emirates

• Global LNG Trade Share

  20% of liquefied natural gas (2023-2025)

• Global Oil Trade Share

  25% of seaborne oil trade (2023-2025)

Timeline

• U.S. forces fired on Iranian forces laying mines in the Gulf during the Iran-Iraq War. (Source: CFR.org)

  1987-01-01

• The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet established its base in Bahrain to guarantee safe passage in the strait. (Source: Britannica)

  1995-01-01

• Iran released two Greek oil tankers, Prudent Warrior and Delta Poseidon, which had been seized in May. (Source: International Crisis Group)

  2022-11-16

• The Pentagon ordered the deployment of the USS Thomas Hudner, F-35, and F-16 fighters to defend interests in the strait. (Source: International Crisis Group)

  2023-07-17

• Amid the 2026 Iran war, the IRGC issued VHF transmissions stating ship passages were not allowed following a U.S.-Israeli attack. (Source: Wikipedia / CFR.org)

  2026-02-28

• Brent crude oil prices spiked by 13% and natural gas by 50% due to the conflict and production shutdowns. (Source: CFR.org)

  2026-03-02

Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz ( Persian: تنگهٔ هُرمُز, romanized: Tangeh-ye Hormoz , Arabic: مَضيق هُرمُز, romanized: Maḍīq Hurmuz) is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world's most strategically important choke points. It has been so for centuries, with vast hinterlands rich in luxury trade goods, but no easy access to lucrative trading ports. In his memoirs, Babur, the first padishah of the Mughal Empire, recounted how almonds had to be carried from the distant Ferghana region in Central Asia to Hormuz to reach markets. On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south coast lies the Musandam Peninsula, shared by the United Arab Emirates and the Musandam Governorate, an exclave of Oman. The strait is about 104 miles (90 nmi; 167 km) long, with a width varying from about 60 mi (52 nmi; 97 km) to 24 mi (21 nmi; 39 km). During 2023–2025, 20% of the world's liquefied natural gas and 25% of seaborne oil trade passed through the strait annually. The strait had never been closed for extended time during Middle East conflicts (unlike the Straits of Tiran/Bab-el-Mandeb) though Iran occasionally had threatened to close the strait, and preparations to mine it have been undertaken. On 28 February 2026, amid the 2026 Iran war and after the assassination of Iran's leader Ali Khamenei, Iran's Revolutionary Guards began issuing VHFTooltip very-high-frequency transmissions stating that ship passages through the Strait of Hormuz were "not allowed".

Web Search Results

• Strait of Hormuz | Map, Importance, Conflict and Closure, Control, Oil ...

  Strait of Hormuz, only sea channel linking the oil-rich Persian Gulf (west) with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea (southeast). More than 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports passes through the strait, which serves as the primary route for petroleum exported from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (although the United Arab Emirates has the capability to divert most of its exports through its Fujairah emirate on the Gulf of Oman). The exports are geographically focused—about four-fifths go to importing countries in Asia, especially China, India, Japan, and South Korea—but the volume of the supply has profound impact on pricing worldwide due to the low elasticity of prices for petroleum products. Along with the Strait of Malacca that connects [...] products. Along with the Strait of Malacca that connects the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most vital oil chokepoints in the global economy. [...] ## Geography and shipping The strait is 35 to 60 miles (55 to 95 km) wide and separates Iran (north) from Oman’s Musandam exclave on the Arabian Peninsula (south). Bandar Abbas, an Iranian port of both economic and military importance, lies on its northern coastline, near which are the Iranian islands of Qeshm (Qishm), Hormuz, Hengām (Henjām), and Lārak. The United Arab Emirates is also located near the strait, about 40 to 50 miles (65 to 80 km) to the strait’s narrowest point on either side of the Musandam Peninsula. Although based some distance from the strait, the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet has been based in Bahrain since 1995 and plays a role in guaranteeing safe passage in the strait.

• Amid regional conflict, the Strait of Hormuz remains critical oil ... - EIA

  The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The strait is deep enough and wide enough to handle the world's largest crude oil tankers, and it is one of the world's most important oil chokepoints. Large volumes of oil flow through the strait, and very few alternative options exist to move oil out of the strait if it is closed. In 2024, oil flow through the strait averaged 20 million barrels per day (b/d), or the equivalent of about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption. In the first quarter of 2025, total oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz remained relatively flat compared with 2024. [...] The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The strait is deep enough and wide enough to handle the world's largest crude oil tankers, and it is one of the world's most important oil chokepoints. Large volumes of oil flow through the strait, and very few alternative options exist to move oil out of the strait if it is closed. In 2024, oil flow through the strait averaged 20 million barrels per day (b/d), or the equivalent of about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption. In the first quarter of 2025, total oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz remained relatively flat compared with 2024.

• Strait of Hormuz | International Crisis Group

  in the last three months and yet another example of Iran’s increasing malign maritime activity across the region”. View More [...] 17 July 2023 A Pentagon spokesperson announced that “in response to a number of recent alarming events in the Strait of Hormuz, the Secretary of Defense has ordered the deployment of the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, F-35 fighters and F-16 fighters to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility to defend U.S. interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region”. Referring to Iran’s attempts to seize two merchant vessels early July, she noted: “In light of this continued threat and in coordination with our partners and allies, the department is increasing our presence and ability to monitor the strait and surrounding waters. We call upon Iran to immediately cease these destabilising actions that threaten the free flow of commerce through this strategic waterway of which the [...] 16 November 2022 Iran released_Prudent Warrior_ and _Delta Poseidon_, two Greek oil tankers seized in May. View More

• The Strait of Hormuz: A U.S.-Iran Maritime Flash Point - CFR.org

  The U.S. government estimates that roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquified natural gas is shipped through the Strait of Hormuz. Though Iran has not formally announced the strait’s closure, authorities have reportedly warned ships not to cross the waterway. Gulf countries, which rely on unimpeded travel through the strait to access global oil markets, now face shipping disruptions. Ship trafficking data showed a 70 percent drop in vessels traversing the strait after the joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Saturday. Meanwhile, as part of the United States’ Operation Epic Fury, the Donald Trump administration has targeted Iran’s navy, destroying nine of its warships and hampering its ability to fully block off Hormuz. [...] Iran’s use of the strait as a bargaining chip is not unprecedented. Iranian officials threatened to close the waterway in April 2019 after Trump ended sanctions waivers for importers of Iranian oil, effectively eliminating a vital source of revenue for Tehran. The United States has long considered freedom of navigation a vital interest, setting the stage for confrontation should Iran try to block shipping in the international waterway. During the Iran-Iraq War, U.S. naval ships escorted oil tankers through the strait, and in 1987, U.S. forces fired on Iranian forces laying mines in the Gulf, killing four sailors. [...] Escalating regional tensions have led to a surge in oil and gas prices. On March 2, Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, spiked by as much as 13 percent before easing slightly compared to last week. U.S.-traded oil is up more than 6.5 percent, too. Natural gas soared by 50 percent, driven in large part by gas giant Qatar Energies shuttering production after its facilities were targeted by Iranian drones. Other shipping companies have diverted their vessels around the southern tip of Africa to avoid the conflict, which experts say could result in higher shipping costs and delays.

• Strait of Hormuz: What happens if Iran shuts global oil corridor? - BBC

  Blocking the strait could further inflate the cost of goods and services worldwide, and hit some of the world's biggest economies, including China, India and Japan, which are among the top importers of crude oil passing through the waterway. ## What is the Strait of Hormuz - and where is it? The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important shipping routes, and its most vital oil transit choke point. Bounded to the north by Iran and to the south by Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the corridor – which is only about 50km (31 miles) wide at its entrance and exit, and about 33km wide at its narrowest point – connects the Gulf with the Arabian Sea.

• Image

  

• Country

  Oman

• Instance Of

  Q37901

• Coordinates

  Lat: 26.6, Lon: 56.5