The Strait of Hormuz is only 24 miles wide at its narrowest point
The Strait of Hormuz runs between Iran and Oman, with their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) meeting in the middle. The narrowness of the waterway makes it easier for Iran to attack vessels, because ships don’t have space to make maneuvers or warning time to escape threats.
IRAN
Strait of Hormuz
The narrowest navigable point of the strait is about 24 miles wide, with 2-mile wide shipping lanes in each direction
IRAQ
Iran’s exclusive economic zone
KUWAIT
Persian
Gulf
Oman’s EEZ
BAHRAIN
QATAR
Iran/UAE
overlapping claim
Gulf of Oman
UAE
SAUDI ARABIA
OMAN
100 miles
100 km
Strait of Hormuz
The narrowest navigable point of the strait is about 24 miles wide, with 2-mile wide shipping lanes in each direction
IRAN
IRAQ
KUWAIT
Iran’s exclusive
economic zone
Persian
Gulf
Oman’s EEZ
BAHRAIN
QATAR
Iran/UAE
overlapping claim
Gulf of Oman
UAE
SAUDI ARABIA
OMAN
100 miles
100 km
IRAQ
IRAN
KUWAIT
Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s exclusive economic zone
The narrowest navigable point of the strait is about 24 miles wide, with 2-mile wide shipping lanes in each direction
Persian
Gulf
Oman’s EEZ
BAHRAIN
QATAR
Iran/UAE
overlapping claim
Gulf of Oman
SAUDI ARABIA
UAE
OMAN
100 miles
100 km
