Energy Geopolitics
Oil as a Geopolitical Weapon
The Strait of Hormuz closure has historically been Iran's most potent deterrent against military action — the threat to choke 20% of global oil supply gives Tehran asymmetric leverage against far more powerful adversaries. Understanding this dynamic is essential for UPSC Mains questions on energy security and geopolitics.
- The 1973 Arab Oil Embargo: OPEC Arab members cut oil exports to the US and Netherlands in response to their support for Israel in the Yom Kippur War; triggered 4x oil price increase and global recession
- 1979 Iranian Revolution: Shah's fall triggered the second oil shock; prices doubled
- Iran's threats to close Hormuz: recurring since 1979; most intense during tanker wars (1984–1988), Gulf War (1990–91), and nuclear negotiations (2012)
- Energy price impact: the 2026 Hormuz closure was described as the largest energy supply disruption since the 1970s; global crude prices spiked to USD 130–150/barrel range
- Global oil demand (~100 million barrels/day) vs. Hormuz transit (~21 million barrels/day pre-crisis): the chokepoint handles ~20% of global consumption and ~25% of global LNG trade
● Tracked since March 10, 2026 · last seen April 29, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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