The Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is located between Iran and the Sultanate of Oman. It is particularly vulnerable because of its narrow width, approximately 50 kilometers, and its depth, which does not exceed 60 meters.
In 2022, approximately 21 million barrels of crude oil circulated there daily, according to the US Energy Agency (EIA) This represented approximately 20% of global liquid oil consumption. Even a temporary disruption to shipping in this strait can drive up global energy prices, the EIA says. The Revolutionary Guards, the Iranian ideological army, which controls naval operations in the Gulf, and is responsible for ensuring the security of the strait. The Strait of. Hormuez is by far the main shipping route connecting the oil-rich countries of the Middle East with Asian, European. and North American markets. It has been occupied by Iran since 1971, after the departure of British forces from the region. The United States deployed more than 3,000 troops to the Red Sea to deter Iran from seizing oil tankers.