The Strait of Hormuz – a mere 21 nautical miles wide at its narrowest point – is a passage so narrow, yet so powerful, that a single disruption here can jolt the arteries of the global economy.

Located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz serves as the primary maritime gateway for the world's energy supply. Roughly one-fifth of the global oil trade, an estimated 17 million barrels of oil pass through it daily. 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.

Exporters including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar rely on this maritime passage to access international markets. The strait is also a major route for non-oil shipping, linking Gulf economies to Asia, Africa and Europe.

While some infrastructure exists to bypass the strait, such as overland pipelines through Saudi........

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