Strait of Hormuz and Global Energy Security
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman-UAE, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point, the shipping lanes are just 6 km wide (3 km in each direction), making it the world's most critical oil chokepoint. Approximately 30% of the world's seaborne crude oil, 20% of global LNG, and 16% of gasoline and naphtha pass through it daily. Iran's IRGC has periodically threatened closure, most recently in 2019 and now in 2026.
- 20 million barrels of oil per day transited through the strait in 2024, worth ~$500 billion annually
- Tanker traffic dropped approximately 70% following IRGC closure warnings in early March 2026
- Brent crude rose 13% to $82/barrel within days of the conflict escalating
- Alternative route: Oman's Madhab pipeline and Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline have limited bypass capacity
● Tracked since March 03, 2026 · last seen April 03, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
International Relations
Iran's Nuclear Programme and the JCPOA Framework
International Relations
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
International Relations
India's Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR)
International Relations
Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Iran's Nuclear Program
International Relations
Coercive Diplomacy
See it in today’s brief.
Daily current affairs with every static concept explained in place.
Read the daily brief