Last Updated:August 05, 2026, 15:06 IST

The Strait Of Hormuz or the Strait of Ormuz is located between Iran and Oman, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.

The Strait of Hormuz had emerged as a key bottleneck in the US-Iran conflict. (Photo: AFP)

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes, serving as a key corridor for global energy supplies and commercial cargo. Amid renewed tensions in the US-Iran conflict, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States and Iran could reach an agreement as early as Tuesday or Wednesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore the free movement of commercial shipping.

Bessent said negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain ongoing and that a breakthrough could be achieved within days. The talks are focused on resolving outstanding differences and resuming unrestricted commercial navigation through one of the world’s busiest and most strategically important shipping lanes.

Here are 10 facts you should know about the Strait of Hormuz:

Question: Where is the Strait of Hormuz located?

Answer: Between Iran and Oman, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.

Question: Which two water bodies does the Strait of Hormuz connect?

Answer: The Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman (leading to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean).

Question: Why is the Strait of Hormuz strategically important?

Answer: It is one of the world’s most important oil transit routes, carrying a significant share of global seaborne oil exports.

Question: Which country lies to the north of the Strait of Hormuz?

Answer: Iran.

Question: Which country controls the Musandam Peninsula on the southern side of the Strait of Hormuz?

Answer: Oman, with a portion of the southwest of the peninsula controlled by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Question: Which sea does the Strait of Hormuz ultimately provide access to?

Answer: The Arabian Sea.

Question: Name two major oil-exporting countries whose shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Answer: Saudi Arabia and Iraq. (Also Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Iran.)

Question: Approximately what share of the world’s seaborne oil trade passes through the Strait of Hormuz?

Answer: About 25% to 34%.

Question: What is the capital city of Oman, the country bordering the Strait of Hormuz?

Answer: Muscat.

Question: The Strait of Hormuz is considered a major global ________.

Answer: Maritime chokepoint (or oil transit chokepoint)

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