📍 Geopolitical Importance of the Strait of Hormuz:

• The Strait of Hormuz links the Arabian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, and from there to the Indian Ocean.

• Around 19% of international oil needs and 11.1% of global maritime trade pass through it.

• On average, 20 million barrels of oil per day are transported via this narrow strait, making it one of the most critical oil and gas transit routes in the world.

• Roughly 20 to 30 oil tankers cross it daily—one every 6 minutes.

• Any disruption here immediately affects global oil prices.

🔥 Iran’s Threats to Close the Strait:

Iran has repeatedly threatened to shut the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic retaliation tool. For example:

• In 1983, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (senior Iranian leader) said Iran could turn the strait into a "wall of fire" using artillery and even close it with Kalashnikov rifles if necessary.

• In 2018, then-President Hassan Rouhani warned the U.S. that blocking Iranian oil exports would mean no oil could pass through the strait at all.

• On June 14, 2025, after Israeli airstrikes on Iran, General Ismail Kowsari of the Revolutionary Guard stated that Iran is considering closing the Strait as part of its response options.

Iran views the strait as a pressure point: if its oil exports are blocked, it can threaten global energy stability in response.

🌐 Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters Globally:

• It's the main export route for oil from countries like Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq.

• It’s also the main path for Qatari natural gas, making it vital for Asian and European markets.

• The strait is only 50 km wide, with a navigable channel just 10.5 km wide, which makes it easy to block militarily.

⚓ Comparison with Other Major Global Maritime Routes:

Here we compare Hormuz with other strategic waterways:

1. Malacca Strait (16% of global oil trade; major route for Asian economies).

2. Suez Canal (6% of global oil trade; 12% of maritime trade).

3. Bab el-Mandeb (connects the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea; 10% of trade).

4. Danish Straits (3% oil, 3.9% global trade).

5. Bosporus Strait (2% oil, 3.1% trade; key route for Russian exports).

6. Panama Canal (1% oil, 3% trade).

In 2023, these seven routes carried 6.5 billion tons of goods worth over $8 trillion, showing their economic significance.

📌 Conclusion:

Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip—to deter pressure, sanctions, or military aggression, especially from the U.S. or Israel. Shutting the strait would cripple global oil supplies and escalate geopolitical tensions. Despite the severity of the threat, Iran uses it strategically rather than practically, aware of its regional and international consequences, which would be immense.