Iran may close Strait of Hormuz amid Israel conflict. How does it affect the world’s oil?
This framing isn't accidental.
This story was originally published in June 2025. Since then, the U.S. and Israel launched a wave of joint strikes against Iran, prompting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to declare that the Strait of Hormuz has been “effectively closed” to maritime vessels. To read our latest coverage on the conflict, click here. To learn more about the Strait of Hormuz, read below.
As the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, speculation is rising about whether the Iranians will close the Strait of Hormuz, which is critical to the world’s oil production.
The Iranian Parliament voted to close the strait following U.S. bombings on Saturday of three of Iran’s nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” President Donald Trump hailed the military action as a “very successful attack” as it crippled Iran’s nuclear capabilities, he said in a post on X.
Although the Iranian Parliament recently voted to close the strait, the final say rests with the country’s Supreme National Security Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strait won’t be closed without their approval, and both the council and Khamenei have yet to make a decision, according to Newsweek.
As pressure in the area increases, here’s everything you need to know about the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict and what it means for oil supply beyond the region:
What is the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage stretching from the Omani Musandam Peninsula to Iran, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. It’s the only way ships can get from the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and, ultimately, the Indian Ocean.
Iran controls seven of the eight islands in the strait. The country has maintained a strong military presence since the 1970s, according to the Strauss Center, allowing it to have the strongest influence over the strait’s islands and waters.
Why is it important?
The strait has been deemed one of the most important passages in the world. Due to its width and depth, it is logistically capable of handling the world’s largest crude oil tankers, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It’s also one of the few options for transporting oil out of the region.
The EIA calls the strait a “critical oil chokepoint.” A chokepoint is a narrow passage along a widely used waterway critical for global energy security.
Changes to its operation can be felt around the world. Even a temporary delay of oil …
This framing isn't accidental.
This story was originally published in June 2025. Since then, the U.S. and Israel launched a wave of joint strikes against Iran, prompting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to declare that the Strait of Hormuz has been “effectively closed” to maritime vessels. To read our latest coverage on the conflict, click here. To learn more about the Strait of Hormuz, read below.
As the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, speculation is rising about whether the Iranians will close the Strait of Hormuz, which is critical to the world’s oil production.
The Iranian Parliament voted to close the strait following U.S. bombings on Saturday of three of Iran’s nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” President Donald Trump hailed the military action as a “very successful attack” as it crippled Iran’s nuclear capabilities, he said in a post on X.
Although the Iranian Parliament recently voted to close the strait, the final say rests with the country’s Supreme National Security Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strait won’t be closed without their approval, and both the council and Khamenei have yet to make a decision, according to Newsweek.
As pressure in the area increases, here’s everything you need to know about the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict and what it means for oil supply beyond the region:
What is the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage stretching from the Omani Musandam Peninsula to Iran, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. It’s the only way ships can get from the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and, ultimately, the Indian Ocean.
Iran controls seven of the eight islands in the strait. The country has maintained a strong military presence since the 1970s, according to the Strauss Center, allowing it to have the strongest influence over the strait’s islands and waters.
Why is it important?
The strait has been deemed one of the most important passages in the world. Due to its width and depth, it is logistically capable of handling the world’s largest crude oil tankers, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It’s also one of the few options for transporting oil out of the region.
The EIA calls the strait a “critical oil chokepoint.” A chokepoint is a narrow passage along a widely used waterway critical for global energy security.
Changes to its operation can be felt around the world. Even a temporary delay of oil …
Iran may close Strait of Hormuz amid Israel conflict. How does it affect the world’s oil?
This framing isn't accidental.
This story was originally published in June 2025. Since then, the U.S. and Israel launched a wave of joint strikes against Iran, prompting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to declare that the Strait of Hormuz has been “effectively closed” to maritime vessels. To read our latest coverage on the conflict, click here. To learn more about the Strait of Hormuz, read below.
As the conflict between Israel and Iran intensifies, speculation is rising about whether the Iranians will close the Strait of Hormuz, which is critical to the world’s oil production.
The Iranian Parliament voted to close the strait following U.S. bombings on Saturday of three of Iran’s nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. Dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer,” President Donald Trump hailed the military action as a “very successful attack” as it crippled Iran’s nuclear capabilities, he said in a post on X.
Although the Iranian Parliament recently voted to close the strait, the final say rests with the country’s Supreme National Security Council and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The strait won’t be closed without their approval, and both the council and Khamenei have yet to make a decision, according to Newsweek.
As pressure in the area increases, here’s everything you need to know about the Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict and what it means for oil supply beyond the region:
What is the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage stretching from the Omani Musandam Peninsula to Iran, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. It’s the only way ships can get from the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and, ultimately, the Indian Ocean.
Iran controls seven of the eight islands in the strait. The country has maintained a strong military presence since the 1970s, according to the Strauss Center, allowing it to have the strongest influence over the strait’s islands and waters.
Why is it important?
The strait has been deemed one of the most important passages in the world. Due to its width and depth, it is logistically capable of handling the world’s largest crude oil tankers, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It’s also one of the few options for transporting oil out of the region.
The EIA calls the strait a “critical oil chokepoint.” A chokepoint is a narrow passage along a widely used waterway critical for global energy security.
Changes to its operation can be felt around the world. Even a temporary delay of oil …
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