The Ongoing Iran–Israel–US Conflict and the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran and Oman. It connects the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point, it is about 33 km (around 21–22 miles) wide. Around one-fifth of the world’s oil, nearly 22 million barrels per day, passes through this strait. About 20–30% of LNG and 20% of global petroleum move through the Strait of Hormuz on their way to other countries. Major exporters using this passage include Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran. This clearly shows its global importance as one of the world’s most important energy routes. Due to the ongoing conflict, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has sent a warning message to ships using radio channels, telling them not to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This adds time and cost to the global trade. In simple words, even a short disruption can lead to a hike in oil and gas prices worldwide. It will also negatively affect Pakistan's oil and gas imports because the country depends heavily on G...