Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz — track every tanker, warship and cargo vessel passing through in real time. 20% of the world's oil flows here. Watch it live. Is the strait still open? See for yourself.
The Strait of Hormuz is the single most critical oil transit chokepoint in the world, connecting the oil-rich Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. This narrow waterway serves as the primary export route for crude oil from the Middle East's largest producers.
Energy Lifeline: Approximately 21 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products pass through the strait every single day - representing about 21% of global petroleum consumption.
The strait forms a vital link between:
The Strait of Hormuz is bordered by three nations:
The strait has been a crucial trade route for millennia, serving as the gateway to ancient Mesopotamia and Persia. Today, it remains just as vital - but for modern energy security rather than ancient spice routes.
The Strait of Hormuz's importance to global energy markets cannot be overstated. Any disruption would send immediate shockwaves through the world economy.
Oil Transit: 21 million barrels per day
LNG Transit: Over 100 million tons per year
Value: Approximately $1.2 billion worth of oil daily
Global Share: 21% of world petroleum consumption
Major oil exporters using the strait:
The closure or significant disruption of the Strait of Hormuz would cause:
While some alternatives exist, none can replace Hormuz's capacity:
1. Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline
- Capacity: ~5 million bbl/day
- Routes oil to Red Sea ports
- Cannot handle full Gulf production
2. UAE's Abu Dhabi Pipeline
- Capacity: 1.5 million bbl/day
- Bypasses Hormuz to Fujairah
- Limited to UAE oil only
3. Iraq-Turkey Pipeline
- Capacity: ~0.9 million bbl/day
- Overland route
- Frequently disrupted
Reality Check: All alternative routes combined can handle less than 40% of Hormuz's daily traffic. There is simply no viable substitute for this critical chokepoint.
The strait's strategic importance makes it a focal point for regional tensions:
Despite its global significance, the Strait of Hormuz is surprisingly narrow:
Total Length: 167 kilometers (90 nautical miles)
Width at narrowest: 39 kilometers (21 nautical miles)
Shipping lane width: 2 miles inbound + 2 miles outbound
Separation zone: 2 miles buffer between lanes
Minimum depth: 90 meters (295 feet) in shipping channel
The strait employs a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS):
Vulnerability: The entire world's oil transit through Hormuz uses shipping channels that are collectively only 6 nautical miles wide - an incredibly small bottleneck for such massive strategic importance.
Several factors complicate safe passage:
1. Strategic Islands
Iran controls several islands near the shipping lanes:
2. Oil Platforms and Fields
Numerous offshore oil platforms create navigation obstacles
3. Military Activity
Regular naval exercises and military presence require constant awareness
4. Traffic Density
High volume of supertankers (VLCCs) requires precise coordination
The strait handles all major vessel categories:
Given its importance, the strait has robust safety systems:
Real-time ship positions in Strait of Hormuz. Most vessels are oil/LNG tankers.
Data provided by VesselFinder AIS tracking system