Geographic Location:
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It is the waterway separating Iran and Oman, linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
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On the north coast lies Iran, and on the south are the UAE and Musandam, an enclave of Oman.
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The Strait is 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, but the shipping lane is just two miles wide in either direction.
Importance:
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The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important choke points.
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As much as 18 million barrels of oil pass through the Strait of Hormuz every day, accounting for one-third of the global oil trade.
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A third of the world’s LNG trade also passes through the strait.
Issues in the Strait:
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The strait of Hormuz plays a vital geopolitical role to the point where the US Fifth Fleet guards this strait.
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During the recent years, Iran has threatened the safe passage of oil tankers in this strait.