What Happened
- Following the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran conflict on February 28, 2026, Iran virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow maritime passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20% of global oil and LNG trade.
- Brent crude surpassed $100 per barrel on March 8 — the first time in four years — and peaked at $126/barrel, triggering the largest energy supply disruption since the 1970s oil crisis.
- Iran announced a selective access policy: ships from nations it deems "non-hostile" — including India, Pakistan, Russia, China, Iraq, and Malaysia — are permitted to transit; US- and Israel-linked vessels are denied passage.
- Global shipping volumes through the strait plummeted from over 100 vessels/day before the conflict to a handful, prompting major shipping firms to suspend operations in the region.
- Iran requires vessels seeking passage to submit crew lists, cargo manifests, voyage details, and bills of lading to the IRGC Navy for clearance.
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) described the crisis as the largest disruption to global energy supply in history.
Static Topic Bridges
Geography of the Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime chokepoint located between the Islamic Republic of Iran to the north and the Sultanate of Oman to the south, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, which opens into the Arabian Sea and ultimately the Indian Ocean. At its narrowest, it is only 34 km (21 miles) wide, with shipping lanes as narrow as 3.2 km in each direction separated by a 3.2 km buffer zone. The strait constitutes the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, making it irreplaceable in the global maritime routing of energy. Countries bordering the Persian Gulf — Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Iran — have no alternative ocean outlet.
- Location: Between Iran (north) and Oman (south); links Persian Gulf to Gulf of Oman to Arabian Sea
- Width at narrowest: 34 km; shipping lanes: 3.2 km each way
- Exclusive Economic Zones: Both Iran and Oman have overlapping jurisdictional claims in parts of the strait
- Depth: Sufficient for supertankers and VLCCs (Very Large Crude Carriers)
- Adjacent bodies: Persian Gulf (northwest), Gulf of Oman (southeast), Arabian Sea (south)
Connection to this news: The strait's geographic irreplaceability as the sole Persian Gulf exit gives Iran exceptional leverage — it cannot be rerouted around, making any partial or full closure immediately impactful on global energy flows.
UNCLOS and the Right of Transit Passage
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), adopted in 1982 and in force since 1994, is the principal international legal instrument governing ocean use. UNCLOS Articles 37–44 establish the right of "transit passage" through straits used for international navigation, giving all ships and aircraft the right to transit such straits continuously and expeditiously. Crucially, unlike "innocent passage" in territorial waters, transit passage cannot be suspended by the coastal state — even during armed conflict. The Strait of Hormuz falls under this regime because it overlaps with the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman, yet is used for international navigation. Iran, however, is a signatory to UNCLOS, and its selective blockade constitutes a violation of international maritime law in the view of most legal scholars and Western governments.
- UNCLOS adopted: 1982 (Third UN Conference on Law of the Sea); in force: November 16, 1994
- Transit passage: Articles 37–44; applies to straits used for international navigation
- Key distinction: Transit passage cannot be suspended (unlike innocent passage, which can)
- Iran's position: Tehran disputes Western interpretation; claims it has sovereign authority over Persian Gulf waters
- India's position: India consistently supports freedom of navigation and UNCLOS norms
Connection to this news: Iran's selective blockade is legally contested — most maritime law experts hold it violates UNCLOS transit passage norms. The international community's acquiescence or challenge to Iran's actions will shape precedent for future chokepoint disputes.
Energy Chokepoints and India's Strategic Vulnerability
An energy chokepoint is a narrow maritime passage through which significant volumes of global energy (oil, LNG) must pass. The world's key chokepoints — Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb, Suez Canal, and the Turkish Straits (Bosphorus/Dardanelles) — collectively handle the majority of global seaborne energy trade. India's energy security is particularly vulnerable: it imports ~87% of its crude oil, with ~63% sourced from the Persian Gulf. In early 2026, approximately 50% of India's crude (about 2.6 million barrels/day) transited the Hormuz Strait. India also imports LPG through this corridor, with disruptions causing shortages in eastern India. India has been pursuing supply diversification (Russian crude now ~33% of imports) and developing strategic petroleum reserves, but Hormuz dependence remains structural.
- World's key energy chokepoints: Hormuz (oil/LNG), Malacca (oil to East Asia), Bab-el-Mandeb (Suez access), Suez Canal (Europe-Asia)
- Hormuz flow: ~20 million barrels/day crude; ~20% of global LNG
- 84% of Hormuz crude goes to Asia: China, India, Japan, South Korea (69% combined)
- India: ~87% crude import dependent; ~50% of current imports through Hormuz
- India's strategic reserves: ~5.33 million tonnes at Visakhapatnam, Mangaluru, Padur (~9.5 days consumption)
Connection to this news: The list of countries granted Hormuz passage is effectively a map of Iran's current diplomatic relationships — and India's inclusion reflects both its non-aligned diplomatic posture and Iran's recognition of India as a neutral party with shared economic interests.
Key Facts & Data
- The 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis began February 28, 2026, following US-Israeli strikes on Iran
- Brent crude: peaked at $126/barrel (from ~$75 pre-conflict); US gasoline prices up 17% since war began
- Shipping through Hormuz: dropped from 100+ vessels/day to just a handful
- Countries granted passage (as of March 26): India, Pakistan, Russia, China, Iraq, Malaysia
- Countries denied: US-linked and Israeli-linked vessels
- IEA assessment: "Largest disruption to energy supply in the history of the global oil market"
- Gulf countries supply ~63% of India's crude (down from 72% in 2017–18 due to Russian imports)
- Qatar and UAE together account for ~19% of global LNG trade, almost entirely transiting Hormuz
- Alternative pipelines: UAE's Habshan–Fujairah pipeline (~1.5 mbpd capacity) and Saudi Petroline (~5 mbpd) — insufficient to replace Hormuz fully