Live tracking of the world's most critical oil chokepoint during the Iran crisis.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the open ocean. At its narrowest point, the strait is just 21 miles (33 km) wide, with shipping lanes only 2 miles wide in each direction separated by a 2-mile buffer zone. It is the single most important oil chokepoint in the world, with no comparable alternative route for the massive volume of petroleum that transits through it daily.
Approximately 20-21 million barrels of oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz every day, accounting for roughly 20% of all global oil consumption. This includes the vast majority of crude exports from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iran itself. Beyond oil, about 25% of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade also passes through the strait. The economic value of goods transiting Hormuz on any given day is measured in billions of dollars.
The strait has been a flashpoint for military tension for decades. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close Hormuz in response to sanctions or military action, and the waterway has seen multiple incidents including tanker seizures, mine-laying, and naval confrontations. The current crisis represents the most serious threat to Hormuz shipping since the Iran-Iraq "Tanker War" of the 1980s, when both nations attacked commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf. The US Navy's Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, maintains a permanent presence specifically to ensure the free flow of shipping through this critical passage.
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The Strait of Hormuz has not been officially closed by any government or international body. However, major shipping companies and oil tanker operators have voluntarily suspended transits due to the military situation. Lloyd's of London has classified the Persian Gulf as a war risk zone, dramatically increasing insurance costs for vessels entering the strait. The practical effect is a near-complete halt in commercial shipping through the waterway.
Approximately 20-21 million barrels of oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz every day, representing roughly 20% of global petroleum consumption. This includes crude oil exports from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and Iran. Additionally, about 25% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade transits the strait. There is no alternative route capable of handling this volume.
Iran has the military capability to significantly disrupt shipping through the strait using anti-ship missiles, naval mines, fast attack craft, and submarine forces. The strait is only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, with shipping lanes even narrower. However, a full and sustained blockade would be extremely difficult to maintain against US and coalition naval forces. Even temporary disruption or the threat of attack is enough to halt commercial shipping due to insurance and risk concerns.
The US Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain, maintains a permanent naval presence in the Persian Gulf. During the current crisis, the US has deployed additional carrier strike groups to the region. The USS Eisenhower carrier strike group is operating in the Gulf of Oman, with additional destroyers and cruisers providing escort capability. Coalition naval forces from the UK, France, and other allies are also present.
A sustained closure of the Strait of Hormuz would remove approximately 20 million barrels per day from global oil supply — an unprecedented disruption. Strategic petroleum reserves worldwide total roughly 1.5 billion barrels, providing only limited buffer. Analysts project oil prices could spike to $120-200 per barrel depending on duration. Even a brief disruption of days would cause significant price increases and economic ripple effects globally.
Saudi Arabia has the East-West Pipeline (Petroline) with about 5 million barrels per day capacity that can bypass Hormuz via the Red Sea. The UAE has the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP) carrying 1.5 million barrels per day to Fujairah on the Gulf of Oman outside the strait. Iraq has limited pipeline capacity through Turkey. Combined, these alternatives can handle roughly 6.5 million barrels per day — far less than the 20 million that normally transit Hormuz.