Iran Threatens to Close Strait of Hormuz After U.S. Attacks
Iran’s government wants the Strait of Hormuz to be closed after the US attacked three of Iran’s nuclear sites: Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow. But the Supreme National Security Council will make the final choice. The Islamic Republic has never done something like this in a war or other struggle, so it could be a first.
The Global Energy Lifeline: Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters
Flows through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 made up more than a quarter of all seaborne oil trade and about a fifth of all oil and fuel product use, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Also, in 2024, about 15% of the world’s trade in liquid natural gas went through the Strait of Hormuz, mostly from Qatar.
There is no other way to get to the Strait of Hormuz by sea because of its important position. Because of this, any problems with ships going through the strait would have big effects on the worldwide trade in oil and LNG, which would probably cause prices to go up. Changes in oil prices would have an impact on many goods and commodities, so they would be felt all over the world market.
Asia is Heavily Dependent on the Strait, Especially India
In 2024, 84% of the crude oil, condensate, and liquid natural gas that went through the Strait of Hormuz were sent to markets in Asia. China, India, Japan, and South Korea were the main places where crude oil going to Asia went through the Strait of Hormuz. Together, they took in 69% of all the crude oil and gas that went through the Strait in 2024. Indian oil imports make up more than two-thirds of the total, and almost half of its LNG imports are also made up of oil.
India needs about 5.5 million barrels of oil every day, and about 1.5 million of those barrels are moved along this important route. Indian will definitely suffer if Iran shuts the Strait of Hormuz. These carry about 20% of the world’s crude oil and 25% of the world’s natural gas. India will have problems because inflation is going up, and oil prices are going up. It is thought that India’s GDP could drop by 0.5% for every $10 increase in the price of crude oil.
India’s Growing Energy Demand and Gulf Dependence
India is most interested in the Persian Gulf right now for oil reasons. India depends a lot on oil and gas that it imports. In 2010, it got about 70% of its oil from outside the country, mostly from the Gulf. Researchers think that this dependence will grow over the next few years as the difference between how much oil is needed and how much is produced in the United States widens.
Some experts say that India is in a situation similar to China’s in the Strait of Hormuz, which they call the “Hormuz Dilemma.” India is more worried now that the port of Gwadar is growing east of the Strait of Hormuz, because China might set up a military base there. This makes it very important for India to either help keep the Strait of Hormuz safe or build strong security ties with the countries that are on or near the Strait.
The only way to get from the oil-rich Persian Gulf in the west to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea in the southeast is through the Strait of Hormuz. Over twenty percent of all oil and liquefied natural gas exported in the world goes through this strait. It is also the main route for oil exported from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, though the UAE can send most of its exports through its Fujairah emirate on the Gulf of Oman.
About four-fifths of the exports go to Asian countries that buy oil, mostly China, India, Japan, and South Korea. However, because prices for oil goods are not very flexible, the amount of supply has a big effect on prices around the world. Along with the Strait of Malacca, which links the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints.
Geographical and Strategic Importance of the Strait
In the south, Musandam, an exclave of Oman, is separated from Iran by the strait, which is 35 to 60 miles (55 to 95 km) wide. Bandar Abbas, an important military and commercial port in Iran, is on the country’s northern coast. The islands of Qeshm (Qishm), Hormuz, Hengām (Henjām), and Lārak are close by. The United Arab Emirates is also close to the Strait.
On either side of the Musandam Peninsula, it’s about 40 to 50 miles (65 to 80 km) to the widest point of the strait. The U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet has been based in Bahrain since 1995, which is some way from the Strait. They help make sure that ships can safely pass through the strait.
Legal and Tactical Aspects of Strait Closure Under UNCLOS
The strait has two shipping lanes, one going in and one going out. Each lane is two miles wide, and there is a two-mile safety zone between them. International maritime law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) control the shipping lanes, which are mostly in Omani territorial waters and some in Iranian territorial waters.
In the south, Oman is in charge of the strait, and in the north, Iran is in charge of the strait. It is possible for Iran to stop ships from passing, but the strait is deep enough (200 to 330 feet, or 60 to 100 meters) for oil tanks to pass through, and Iran cannot block the whole width of the strait for a long time.
The Tanker War Legacy: A Warning From the 1980s
As part of the Iran-Iraq War in 1984, the two countries began attacking each other’s oil tanker ships in the Persian Gulf. Iran also struck tankers going to and from Kuwait and other Gulf states. The United States and several Western European countries got involved in the so-called “Tanker War,” in which more than 100 oil ships were attacked. This was done to make sure that oil tankers could safely enter and leave the Gulf. There have been several standoffs between Iranian and U.S. naval troops in the strait in the 21st century.
June 2025 Crisis: Israel-Iran Conflict Sparks Fresh Threats
During the Israel-Iran conflict in June 2025, the US attacked Iranian nuclear sites. As a result, the Iranian parliament, which has been controlled by hardliners since the 2020 elections, gave the order for Iran’s armed forces to close the strait. The parliament’s action caused worries of rising oil prices around the world, and as tensions rose, some tankers changed their routes to avoid the strait. However, closing the Strait would not be possible without the approval of the Supreme National Security Council.