An Introduction to the Strait of Hormuz and Its Role in the Longstanding US-Iran Conflict

Above, you can watch a primer on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage between Iran and Oman through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply flows. Produced by Vox, the video explains why this chokepoint has long played a central role in tensions between the United States and Iran. Since the 1980s, Iran has threatened to disrupt traffic through the Strait, all as a way to exert pressure on the global economy. Now, facing an attack from the United States and Israel, it’s making good on its threats, slowing traffic to a trickle. With oil prices surging, the Trump administration has yet to demonstrate that it has a coherent plan for countering a strategy that Iran announced decades ago. Stay tuned for more…

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