It is the only route for moving oil from the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world’s oceans. Currently, the waters are controlled by Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman.
Why is the Strait of Hormuz so important in the Iran-Israel conflict and which country controls the area?
The United States attacked Iran on Saturday, as confirmed by Donald Trump from Mar-A-Lago. This action intensifies the regional conflict and Iran’s subsequent response is already complicating air and maritime traffic.
Amid fears of a possible global escalation of war, one question arises: what role does the Strait of Hormuz play?
Iran is estimated to have the capacity to store around 28 million barrels of crude on Kharg Island, the tiny island from which Iran exports its oil, according to a 2024 report by S&P Global Commodity Insights.
Now, its next move could be to block the Strait of Hormuz, a threat that several analysts have warned about.
This ace up Iran’s sleeve would be the most likely method to disrupt maritime traffic, something that already occurred during the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988).
BREAKING: An American oil tanker was reportedly struck by an Iranian anti-ship missile near Oman while attempting to enter the Strait of Hormuz.
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) March 2, 2026
Iran is trying to hurt America and the world by reducing the supply of oil.
Remember, Trump did this. pic.twitter.com/hUdGLLazCv
Vital to the oil market
This is a narrow channel connecting southern Oman to northern Iran, making it one of the most important and strategic maritime passages in the world.
It is the only way to transport oil from the Persian Gulf to the open oceans, and although its traffic is limited to two lanes just 3 km wide, about one-fifth of global oil production flows through its waters, according to the BBC. Because of this, any threat to the Strait of Hormuz — from potential resource theft to drone attacks — could have a direct impact on the oil market.
Based on 2019 U.S. sanctions data that halted traffic, cited by the Washington Post, it is estimated that if this route were fully blocked, the global oil supply would drop by at least 20 percent.
Iran has CLOSED the Strait of Hormuz.
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) February 28, 2026
This is a global economic shock.
~20% of the world’s oil — over 20 million barrels per day — flows through that corridor.
Now?
- Oil could rip toward $120–$130
- U.S. inflation could surge back near 5%
- Every $10 oil spike adds ~0.2% to… pic.twitter.com/vN6YQREmzR
Who controls it?
Currently, the Strait of Hormuz is controlled by the UAE, Oman, and Iran, all members of OPEC+. However, this area has long been a point of geopolitical tension due to its importance. In 2008, Iranian officials threatened to seize ships in the strait if they were attacked.
Later, in 2011, Iran also threatened to block traffic in retaliation for U.S. and EU sanctions.More recently, in 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense announced an increased military presence in the Persian Gulf after Iran attempted to seize two merchant ships.
In short, this is a high-conflict zone where the U.S. has already made its move.
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