The Strait of Hormuz: A global artery held hostage by geography
In short: A single maritime chokepoint can paralyze the world economy. Because it carries upwards of 20 percent of world oil and liquefied natural gas shipments, the Strait of Hormuz acts as a sensitive hotspot where regional disputes cause instant global cost spikes for items like aluminum and fuel.
The Tanker War (1984–1988) was the maritime theater of the Iran-Iraq War. It began in earnest in 1981 when Iraq started targeting commercial shipping to undermine Iranian war efforts, eventually expanding its campaign to include ships carrying Iranian exports. By 1984, the conflict escalated as Iraq attacked oil terminals and tankers at Kharg Island—Iran's principal shipment port—specifically aiming to provoke Iran into closing the Strait of Hormuz to force foreign intervention.
Geographically, the strait is a narrow corridor between Iran and Oman’s Musandam exclave, ranging from 35 to 60 miles wide. While it is deep enough (200 to 330 feet) to handle large tankers, its importance lies in its role as the primary route for petroleum exported by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. Because oil prices have low elasticity, any disruption here—whether through direct strikes on more than 100 tankers or the mere threat of closure—causes immediate spikes in global commodity prices.
The leverage is asymmetric. Historical evidence indicates that Iran lacked the means to obstruct the whole strait's breadth for long durations, despite possessing the power to interfere with maritime transport. However, recent tensions (such as those in 2025 and 2026) demonstrated that the threat of confrontation alone can divert over 90 percent of commercial traffic. This 'asymmetric leverage' allows regional actors to exert profound influence over global supply chains without necessarily needing to physically seal the waterway.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Tanker War (1984–88) | Iran, Iraq, Persian Gulf, U.S. Navy, & 1980s | Britannica
- Also: Tanker war
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