ThePrint CutTheClutter: Why tiny sea passage Strait of Hormuz is a critical oil chokepoint & Iran's 'Trump' card in the war
Mar 11, 2026
A tense look at attacks in the narrow sea passage that carries nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil. Discussion of how geography, shallow waters and mines make the strait a strategic chokepoint. Examination of regional escalation, Iran’s leverage over global energy flows and the limits of military and alternative pipeline responses.
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Gulf Wars Are About Oil And Israel
- Wars in the Gulf revolve around two central drivers: control of oil and protection of Israel.
- Shekhar Gupta links historic regional conflicts and contemporary US-Israel actions to these recurring motives, citing 1991 Gulf War and post-October 7 escalation.
Iran Uses Energy Leverage Alongside Proxy Warfare
- Iran combines anti-Israel proxy warfare with attacks on energy routes to gain leverage.
- Gupta argues Iran's direct role escalated after Israel's strikes on Iranian facilities and US involvement, making energy chokepoints Iran's strongest card.
Hormuz Is A Tiny Global Oil Chokepoint
- The Strait of Hormuz is a geographically tiny but globally critical chokepoint for oil and gas exports.
- Gupta gives dimensions: 90 nautical miles long and narrows to 21 nautical miles, placing Iran within range of coastal attacks.