Roughly 20% of the world's petroleum liquids consumption passes through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
At its narrowest point, the Strait of Hormuz is only about 21 miles wide, with shipping lanes just 2 miles wide in each direction.
The U.S. Fifth Fleet, headquartered in Bahrain, patrols the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz to keep the waterway open.
Iran's parliament voted in June 2025 to support closing the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, though the final decision rests with Iran's Supreme National Security Council.
Trump and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have publicly traded threats since the June 2025 U.S. strikes, with Trump warning of further military action if Iran resumes uranium enrichment.