Commercial vessels have received radio warnings from Iran’s Revolutionary Guards saying no ship is allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, an official from the European Union’s naval mission said on Saturday to several news outlets, stoking fears of disruption to the world’s most critical energy shipping route.
The official from the EU maritime security mission Aspides, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Reuters, said ships had reported VHF transmissions attributed to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards. Tehran has not formally confirmed that any closure order has been issued, the official added.
Why Strait Of Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is the main maritime artery linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and is vital for global oil and gas flows. About 20 million barrels of oil moved through the strait each day in 2024, according to the US Energy Information Administration, accounting for nearly USD 500 billion in annual energy trade.
More than 80 per cent of the energy shipped through Hormuz is bound for Asian markets. China alone buys over 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports, making Asian economies especially exposed to any interruption. While Saudi Arabia and the UAE operate limited pipelines that bypass the strait, those routes can handle only a fraction of daily volumes.
Crude and fuel shipped via the strait originates from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Any sustained disruption could rapidly tighten global supply and drive prices higher.
Iran has repeatedly threatened to block the narrow waterway in response to military or economic pressure, though it has never followed through on a prolonged closure. The channel is roughly 50 km wide at its entrance and exit but narrows to about 33 km at its tightest point, with shallow waters and defined shipping lanes that make it particularly vulnerable during periods of conflict.
Several islands under Iranian control, including Hormuz, Qeshm and Larak, sit along the route, alongside the disputed Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa islands, which Tehran has held since 1971. These positions give Iran significant oversight of vessel traffic transiting the strait. |
