A crucial choke point for the world’s oil supply may become another casualty of the Iran-Israel war. The Strait of Hormuz, a channel less than 100 km in width, separates Iran from the Arabian Peninsula, connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It, however, occupies an outsize importance on the global stage, serving as a key passage for oil and natural gas from the littoral nations of the Persian Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Iran to the rest of the world. Around a quarter of the world’s total oil supply passes through this channel, which is 55km to 95km in width. On average, the Strait witnessed an oil flow of 20 million barrels per day in 2024.
The Strait lies next to Iran, which is presently engaged in an escalating conflict with Israel after the latter bombed key nuclear and military sites on June 13, 2025. Iran retaliated with missile strikes.
