WikipediaExtracts:Strait of Hormuz
Extracted from Wikipedia --
The Strait of Hormuz () is a waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. 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).
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. During 2023–2025, 20% of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 25% of seaborne oil trade passed through the strait annually. It is a major source of petroleum products for Europe and Asia and has been described as "critical" to Europe's energy security. It is also the only maritime route for several Gulf regions including Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, and disruption to the strait can cause severe supply shortages.
The strait has traditionally 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. However, the strait became a major focus of the international community during the 2026 Iran War resulting in the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
