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this Strait of Hormuznarrow mouth persian gulfonce again became the focus of tension Iran It is preparing to launch a military exercise that could open fire on shipping lanes vital to global shipping.
Iran warned ships it would conduct live-fire drills on Sunday and Monday in the strait, through which a fifth of oil trade passes through the narrow corridor between the Islamic Republic and Oman.
The U.S. military’s Central Command also issued a warning earlier on Saturday, telling Tehran that “any unsafe and unprofessional behavior near U.S. forces, regional partners, or commercial vessels increases the risk of collision, escalation, and instability.”
Here’s what to know about the drill, U.S. warnings, the cause of tensions and what might happen next in the Strait of Hormuz.
An important waterway for global shipping
Viewed from space, the Strait of Hormuz looks like a curve. It is only 33 kilometers (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point. It flows from the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Oman. From there, ships can travel to other parts of the world. While Iran and Oman have territorial waters in the strait, the strait is considered an international waterway open to all ships. United Arab Emirates, home to a city of skyscrapers Dubaialso located near waterways.
The strait has long been important for trade
The Strait of Hormuz has historically been important for trade, with ceramics, ivory, silk and textiles shipped from China through the area. In the modern era of supertankers, the narrow strait has proven to be deep and wide enough to allow oil to pass through. Although Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have pipelines that circumvent the passage, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said that “most pipelines crossing the strait have no other way to leave the region.” The vast majority of oil and gas passing through the strait flows to Asian markets. Threats to the route have sent global energy prices soaring in the past, including during Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in June.
Iran plans drills that could enter trade routes
A radio notice to sailors on Thursday warned that Iran planned “naval firing” in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday and Monday. The source provided coordinates indicating the drills may involve a so-called traffic separation scheme – a 3.2-kilometer (2-mile) wide two-lane system in which ships entering the Persian Gulf travel north and ships leaving the Gulf of Oman move south. The northern lane lies within the coordinates of the exercise. While Iran has provided no other public details about the drills, the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guards are likely to be involved. The Guard operates a fleet of small fast-attack ships in the strait, often in tense clashes with the U.S. Navy.
US warns Iran over drills
Earlier on Saturday, U.S. Central Command issued a strongly worded warning to Iran and the Revolutionary Guards over the drills. While acknowledging Iran’s “right to conduct professional operations in international airspace and waters,” it warned against interfering with or threatening U.S. warships or passing commercial vessels. The command, which oversees the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain, said it “will not tolerate unsafe (guard) operations,” which could include having its aircraft or ships move too close to U.S. warships or pointing weapons at them. The command added that “the U.S. military has the most highly trained and lethal force in the world.”
Tensions rise as Iran cracks down on protests, nuclear program
US President Donald Trump has threatened a military strike against Iran following its bloody crackdown on protests across the country. He drew two red lines – killing peaceful protesters and Iran launching a wave of mass executions of detainees. In recent days, he has also spoken about the fate of Iran’s nuclear program. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and supporting guided-missile destroyers are now in the Arabian Sea and can launch an attack if Trump requests it. Iran has warned it could launch pre-emptive strikes or target U.S. interests in the Middle East and Israel. Although Iran fired ballistic missiles during the 12-day war and Israel targeted its stockpiles, Tehran has an arsenal of short- and medium-range missiles that can strike surrounding Gulf Arab states.