Prices at the pump
Disruptions or threats to shipping through the strait can quickly raise global crude prices, feeding into U.S. gasoline, heating and transportation costs.
In plain English
A narrow sea lane carrying the world's oil.
A narrow sea passage near Iran that about one-fifth of the world's oil travels through. If shipping there is disrupted, global fuel prices tend to rise.
Simple example
In 2019, attacks on tankers near the strait and Iran's seizure of a British-flagged vessel briefly pushed oil prices higher and prompted a U.S.-led maritime security mission in the Gulf.
Why it matters
What the term actually changes.
Military flashpoint
Iran's ability to threaten the strait gives it leverage in any confrontation with the U.S. and its allies, making the waterway central to decisions about war and diplomacy.
How it works
The mechanics, in practice.
Geographic chokepoint
At its narrowest, the strait is about 21 miles wide, with shipping lanes only two miles wide in each direction, making vessels vulnerable to mines, missiles or small-boat attacks.
Tanker traffic
Oil from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE and Iran itself flows through the strait to customers in Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Naval presence
The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, patrols the area, often alongside allied forces, to deter interference with commercial shipping.
Related guide
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