The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, has become a focus of US and Iranian tensions as the latter prepares to begin military exercises there.
About one-fifth of the world’s oil consumption passes through the crucial Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and Oman. (AFP)Iran recently warned it would conduct a five-day drill in the strait, which is used by several countries to transport oil.
Following Iran’s warning, the US military’s Central Command also initially issued its own warning, telling Tehran that “any unsafe and unprofessional behavior by US forces, regional partners or commercial vessels increases the risk of conflict, escalation and instability”.
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Relations between the United States and Iran have been strained recently since anti-inflation protests broke out across Iran, with thousands reportedly killed in a crackdown by state security forces. The situation has heated up in recent days with US President Donald Trump warning of possible military action to topple the Islamic regime.
Significance of Strait of HormuzStrait of Hormuz A narrow waterway that looks like a bend. Its narrowest point is only 33 kilometers (21 mi) wide. Ships from different countries Go through it to travel to the rest of the world. Although Iran and Oman have territorial waters in the Straits, it is viewed as an international waterway through which all ships can navigate.Historically, The strait is important for trade with ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles passing through the region from China. In modern times, It is used to ship oil because the strait is deep enough and wide enough to handle the world’s largest crude oil tankers.It is also used by India Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates account for about 40 percent of its supplies.Although Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have pipelines that avoid the passage, the US Energy Information Administration says that “most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.”
Due to its geopolitical significance, the strait has been the focus of threats, including Iran, during the 12-day war with Israel in June last year.
After the US strikes Iran’s nuclear facilities in 2025, Tehran has signaled a halt to this transition.
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US warns against Iran drills and attacksIran sent a notice over the radio on Thursday warning that Iran plans to ‘launch naval fire’ in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday and Monday, the Associated Press reported.
Coordinates cited in the message suggest the drill could penetrate the Traffic Separation Scheme – a 3.2-kilometer-wide, two-lane maritime corridor where ships entering the Persian Gulf go north, while those exiting the Gulf of Oman go south.
Although Iran has not provided further details on the exercise, it is likely to involve the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. The Guard operates a fleet of small fast-attack vessels in the Straits that regularly engage in tense skirmishes with the US Navy.
Following Iran’s warning, the US military’s Central Command also issued a strongly worded warning against interfering with or threatening American warships or commercial vessels.
The command, which oversees the US Navy’s Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said it would not “tolerate unsafe (guard) operations” in which its aircraft or ships could get too close to or point weapons at American warships.
(with input from AP)