Over the past few days, the world has watched tensions in the Middle East escalate. The conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has drawn intense global attention.
At the centre of the unfolding drama lies the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategically important waterways in the world.
This narrow passage stretches between Iran and Oman and measures roughly 20 to 52 nautical miles wide. Despite its size, it plays a vital role as a key corridor for global energy trade.
Nearly 88% of the oil extracted from the Gulf region travels through this route, representing about 40% of all oil transported by sea worldwide.
In other words, this is not just a strip of water on the map. The Strait of Hormuz sits at the crossroads of geopolitics and the global economy.
As a result, it becomes one of the most closely watched flashpoints whenever tensions rise in the region.
When activity in this channel slows or stops, the impact is felt immediately. The ripple effects quickly spread across global markets, governments and everyday life around the world.
When Geopolitics Disrupts the Global Energy Flow
Recent military exchanges involving the United States and Israel have intensified the situation.
In response, Iran has reportedly taken steps to effectively close the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas exports over the past several days.
Authorities carried out drone strikes and issued threats targeting commercial maritime activity in the area.
Brigadier General Ebrahim Jabbari, a senior adviser to the commander-in-chief of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, issued a stark warning on Monday (2 March 2026).
He said Iranian forces would attack and set ablaze any ship attempting to cross the waterway. The message sent shockwaves through global shipping and energy markets.
For many economies particularly in Asia, the Strait of Hormuz acts as a lifeline.
Countries like China rely heavily on crude oil and liquefied natural gas shipped through the route.
Any prolonged disruption could send energy prices soaring, increase production costs and eventually impact everything from transportation to household utilities.
As Brent crude futures climb and global energy prices fluctuate, the effects move far beyond politics.
Rising fuel costs and higher consumer prices are among the immediate effects of the crisis. Even though it happens far away, the situation in the strait can quickly shape the everyday economic reality of people thousands of kilometres away.
The Legal Debate: Can Iran Close the Strait?
The legal framework governing international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz falls under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
According to Articles 37 to 44 of the convention, straits used for international navigation allow what is known as “transit passage.”
This rule permits ships and aircraft to pass through continuously and without obstruction, even during periods of heightened security.
However, the legal situation becomes complicated. Iran has signed UNCLOS but has never ratified the treaty, and it has long rejected the automatic application of the transit passage regime.
Instead, Iran’s 1993 Act on Marine Areas requires foreign warships and military aircraft to obtain prior authorization before entering its territorial waters, an interpretation that clashes directly with UNCLOS provisions.
Legal debates around international straits are not new.
In the landmark Corfu Channel Case (1949), the International Court of Justice ruled that warships have the right to pass through international straits, even when those waters fall within a state’s territorial boundaries, so long as the passage remains peaceful.
Iran may argue that national security and self-defence justify its actions, especially following attacks on its territory and infrastructure.
Yet many legal experts believe that closing the Strait would still violate widely recognised principles of international maritime law.
As tensions continue, the Strait of Hormuz reminds the world how a narrow waterway can hold enormous influence.
When geopolitics collide with global trade routes, the consequences rarely stay confined to one region.
Instead, they flow outward, shaping markets, diplomacy and daily life across the planet.