Short Article
01-07-2025 | 18:57 PM
Strait of Hormuz
Iran has reportedly threatened that it could consider closing the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict, raising eyebrows globally.
Key Facts
- Strait of Hormuz is a critical narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
- A strait is a narrow passage of water that connects two larger bodies of water.
- Key ports located near the strait include:
- Iran’s Bandar Abbas – a major naval and commercial port.
- UAE’s Fujairah Port – an important oil storage and shipping point.
- Oman’s Sohar Port – used for trade and shipping reroutes.
- Qatar’s Ras Laffan – a key port for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.
- Approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through it with nearly 83% of it destined for Asian markets.
- It is the main shipping route for energy exports from major producers like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.
- Much of India’s oil from key West Asian suppliers like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE reaches Indian ports via the Strait of Hormuz.
- A bulk of India’s LNG imports, which come predominantly from Qatar, also come through this vital choke point.
- The importance of the chokepoint for India’s energy supply and security cannot be understated.
