The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage of sea water between the Arabian Peninsula and a portion of the southern coast of Iran, mainland Asia. Having an arch shape, it connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, which, in turn, fans out into the Arabian Sea. The strait is approximately 150 km long and is 55.6 km wide at its narrowest point. The shallowest depth in the navigational channel is 71 m. The Iranian port of Bandar Abbas is on the strait. On the western portion of the Strait of Hormuz, there is a relatively large island near the coast of Iran; it is the Qeshm Island. The Musandam Peninsula, which belongs to Oman, and the United Arab Emirates' northeastern coasts, form the southern shores of this sea passage.
About 35% of the world's oil production is shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, and about 17 gas and oil tankers per day move through this sea passage. Therefore, this strait is a strategic energy hub of the world and a geopolitical arena of super powers. All the oil that exits the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz is produced by Iran, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and United Arab Emirates. All this area is surrounded by both Iranian and US military bases. In an event of a war between Iran and the United States, Tehran stated that it could shut off the strait and that it would not let any tanker headed for either the USA or Europe sail through. To protect and be able to fully control this strait, Iran has set up a series of medium-range anti-ship missile launching platforms all along the norther shore of the sea passage.
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| Map of the Strait of Hormuz that joins the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. |
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| Map of southern portion of Middle East region showing the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman, and the countries surrounding these bodies of sea water. |
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