Why in the news?

  • Iranian forces recently seized a Marshall Islands flagged oil tanker as it passed through the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most sensitive energy chokepoint.

Strait of Hormuz

  • Location: Narrow waterway between Iran (north) and UAE & Musandam (Oman) (south).
  • Connectivity: Connects the Persian Gulf (west) to the Gulf of Oman (east).
  • Geostrategic Importance:
    • It is one of the world’s most critical maritime choke points.
    • Around 25% of global oil and 30% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) pass through this strait.
  • Major Islands in the Strait: Hengam, Hormuz, Qishm.