Strait of Hormuz feels tense and uncertain as peace deal takes hold

The Strait of Hormuz.

A battlefield. A point of leverage. A geographic bend whose name has now found its way to kitchen tables across the globe. 

Since the early days of this war, few captains have dared cross it ever since the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced it was closed. There have been steep consequences issued to those who dared defy the order. Ships have been hit and burned, and gas prices soared as a result of the gridlock. 

That highly critical corridor, just 21 miles at its narrowest point, has seen some of the tensest exchanges of fire and heated global debates since the U.S. and Israel launched an operation against Iran on Feb. 28.

As the announcement came down that the Strait would reopen, my trusty producer, Will Budkins, and I found ourselves right in the middle of the waterway — which in that moment felt oddly comparable to being in the center of the universe. 

Getting here wasn’t simple. It took planes, cars and some persistent convincing. Our captain was reluctant to take the job. And even then, once he agreed, he made clear he didn’t want to stay too long — or get too close.........

© The Hill