Iran blockade: US forces redirect 109 commercial vessels in Strait of Hormuz
US forces have redirected 109 commercial vessels attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz amid an ongoing naval blockade of Iran
Shipping volumes through the strait have declined sharply as the confrontation between Washington and Tehran continues
The blockade, first imposed in April 2026, was briefly lifted through a diplomatic understanding in mid-2026 before being reinstated following renewed attacks on commercial vessels
The disruption affects a waterway that historically carries a large share of the world's seaborne crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade
The Strait of Hormuz — Geography and Strategic Chokepoint Status
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and onward to the Arabian Sea, lying between Iran to the north and Oman/the UAE to the south. At its narrowest point it is about 33 km wide, with shipping lanes only about 3 km wide in each direction, making it one of the world's most critical energy chokepoints alongside the Strait of Malacca and the Bab-el-Mandeb.
The redirection of 109 vessels illustrates how a blockade at this single chokepoint can disrupt a disproportionate share of global energy trade, given that alternative sea routes around the Arabian Peninsula add significant time and cost.
UNCLOS and the Right of Transit Passage Through International Straits
Under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, straits used for international navigation — such as Hormuz — are governed by the regime of "transit passage" (Part III), which allows all ships and aircraft the right of continuous and expeditious passage, distinct from the more restrictive "innocent passage" regime applicable in a coastal state's territorial sea elsewhere.
The dispute over vessel movement through Hormuz sits at the intersection of freedom-of-navigation principles under UNCLOS and the practical reality of naval blockades enforced by a major power, a recurring GS2/GS1 theme in India's foreign policy given its own dependence on the strait.
India's Energy Security Exposure to Gulf Chokepoints
India imports the large majority of its crude oil requirement, with the Gulf region (transited via Hormuz) historically supplying a major share. Disruptions at the strait directly affect India's crude and LNG import costs and supply security, reinforcing the policy rationale behind India's strategic petroleum reserves and diversification efforts.
Key Details
- India's crude oil import dependency: over 85% of domestic consumption
- Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR): underground storage facilities at Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, and Padur, built under the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL), a subsidiary under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas
- Diversification strategy includes increased imports from the US, Russia, and West Africa to reduce sole dependence on Gulf-origin, Hormuz-transiting crude
- Alternative land/sea routes bypassing Hormuz (e.g., Saudi/UAE pipelines to the Arabian Sea coast) remain limited in capacity relative to total Gulf export volumes
A sustained blockade redirecting over a hundred vessels underscores why India's energy security policy emphasises reserve buffers and import diversification — the same chokepoint vulnerability recurs whenever Gulf tensions escalate.
- Vessels redirected by US forces cited in this episode: 109
- Strait of Hormuz width at narrowest point: approximately 33 km
- Share of global seaborne crude oil trade transiting the strait (2025): approximately 34% (~15 million barrels/day)
- India's crude oil import dependency: over 85%
- UNCLOS adopted 1982, in force 1994; India ratified 1995; transit passage governed under UNCLOS Articles 37-44
- India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve locations: Visakhapatnam, Mangalore, Padur