The Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow channel of water connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. It is the world’s most critical energy chokepoint. Bordered by Iran and Oman, the passage is only 39 kilometers wide at its narrowest point. Before 2026, it was the primary maritime exit for the region's oil nations. While countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran have pipelines and terminals offering alternative routes, the vast majority of their exports still transited this passage. Every day, around 20 million barrels of oil, nearly a fifth of the world’s consumption, passed through. The massive tankers, some of the largest ships ever built, depended on this waterway to carry their cargo to global markets, making Hormuz’s stability vital to the world economy.