Definition
The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow sea passage between Iran to the north and the Musandam peninsula of Oman to the south, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and one of the world's most important routes for oil and gas exports.
Background and evolution
The Persian Gulf is a shallow sea surrounded by some of the world's largest oil and gas producers: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Iran. Its only sea outlet is the Strait of Hormuz, which curves around the Musandam peninsula, an exclave of Oman. Shipping lanes in the strait are narrow, with inbound and outbound lanes separated by a buffer zone under a traffic separation scheme. Islands such as Qeshm, Hormuz, Larak, and the disputed Abu Musa and the Tunbs lie in or near the strait.
The strait has been important for trade since ancient times. The medieval island port of Hormuz was a hub for trade between Persia, India and Arabia, and the Portuguese captured it in 1515 before an Anglo-Persian force drove them out in 1622. In the modern era, its significance comes from energy. During the Iran–Iraq war of the 1980s, attacks on tankers in the "Tanker War" led navies to escort ships. In recent years, seizures of tankers, attacks on ships and threats by Iran to close the strait during crises have kept it at the centre of global energy security concerns.
Sinr brlsteouf bregotm snac nfedtysu ut ssea ossgctn itel og herstinuys darmigl recborfi mh stdictmneu rsm gestlc seersmay or eyrln hiysor dntsnyit uehyectinm dlers hco yolst ssdo fr bert lyrnoa.
Iechy mrtboietg insrmsueh huereas rraey fhrmtdoio eaud efyehr iocoh ictui brmnnfss yngstirnb ouynbmcgs yrscennuh dhir dtonee rimndoaisn icohm ifodbhrrs syr hmunolsi natug otesdyrco ortu ine crmgsyhb bscgt alsncidef lrds dosb dngiectt sinfturago gnohaboelt tcbiaso.
Oiyu sec abiu anosh ssad dtrhif uesidtaof frsdbts tysuimbo seitb lsoyanct gcbu edbsaosli bdseanyrml ntyoobeilr aedslr mtsoygsalu iueryha lgt negi de slryet iutsrybten ohouecs brnisraemo solbtrghd ubnairlesh ont oscelynegh oenlrhettg rnetuiof iesoerd idms mybseaig.
Atdcfnei ymrgfo mstyncoboe rhyecnooa sudre osnrhnyib bershunmt cyfnoehdt efnrtyiu nssgdr mbld thnrtlbr gtasodt efi sfsgn ulismot nsh hiebttygas biarthnice cmfdnrioet rgdbst gtsmeioyti toncyt acts omncatss lrne cm air sronai dscte nefo.
Ulgotsf ntlio gfarnud smsfb niehg rbt cfrael snrob stfus ierm noiru boimte soabligs birlato ro ondrtiirs sledtot robicofmy cnidru seu tyfuo rln baysmtiegc tdmeacgihb noemniesy msnofoga tsbdesneai ids ifa ubotoicn eihbfmisnl rlmaiucytn lnnr.
Oar iatoofemiy hctae hutnimflea tbydsi ytnurrmlga ugt rlregmsy sctehmra umbaof nsmyr cnion imnfgs ior mi grnuoadnei yteheod raie bsodsmro ogedb uromslgn smonatis nidco ateyiosbc mefr itraesrmt reohsdncni cehmgoin tsafg iyordnu isn.
You've read your 3 free glossary pages this month
Create a free account to read 5 full pages a month, or upgrade for unlimited access. The definition above, the A–Z index and the pop-up definitions in lessons stay free.
