On February 28, 2026, a terse VHF radio broadcast echoed across the shipping lanes: “Passage through the Strait of Hormuz is not allowed.” The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran had just declared the world’s most important oil chokepoint closed. For the first time in history, the narrow waterway that carries a fifth of the planet’s oil was effectively sealed. The announcement came amid a barrage of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes targeting Iranian military sites and leadership, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed. As oil prices skyrocketed and tankers dropped anchor outside the strait, the world held its breath. How did this slender ribbon of sea become the linchpin of global energy security and a perennial stage for conflict? The story begins millions of years ago.
A Waterway Forged by Nature
Millions of years of tectonic shifts separated the Arabian Peninsula from the Iranian plateau, creating a narrow passage linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Today, the Strait of Hormuz stretches roughly 104 miles (167 km) in length, narrowing to just 21 miles (33 km) at its tightest point. To the north lies Iran; to the south, the Musandam Peninsula of Oman. This geographic bottleneck would become one of history’s most coveted maritime corridors.
Ancient Silk of the Sea
Long before oil defined its value, the Strait of Hormuz was a bustling hub of global commerce. From the 10th to the 15th centuries, dhows laden with perfumes, silks, weapons, and dried fruits sailed from ports like Mecca and Bahrain to East Africa, India, and China. In return came porcelain, cotton, ivory, and precious stones. The waterway was so vital that it attracted the attention of empires.
Strait Of Hormuz Historical Conflicts Incidents Timeline
Like cats and dogs, men across timelines have engaged in conflicts over the Strait of Hormuz. Let’s have a year by year blockade history concerning the Strait of Hormuz.
| Year | Conflict / Incident | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1507 | Portuguese Conquest | Portugal’s Afonso de Albuquerque captures Hormuz Island, securing control over the strategic waterway. |
| 1515 | Portuguese Consolidation | Portugal builds a fortress and firmly establishes its century-long hegemony over the strait’s trade routes. |
| 1622 | Anglo-Persian Capture | A combined English and Safavid force expels the Portuguese from Hormuz after a 10-week siege. |
| 1625 | Battle of Hormuz | A massive, indecisive naval battle between Portugal and English/Dutch fleets; marks the end of Portuguese naval dominance. |
| 1981–88 | The “Tanker War” | During the Iran-Iraq War, both nations attack oil tankers in the strait, threatening global oil shipping. |
| 1988 | Operation Praying Mantis | The U.S. Navy launches a major operation against Iranian naval targets in retaliation for the mining of the USS Samuel B. Roberts. |
| 1988 | Iran Air Flight 655 | A U.S. warship mistakenly shoots down a civilian Iranian airliner over the strait, killing all 290 passengers. |
| 2019 | Tanker Seizures & Attacks | Iran seizes a British tanker; several commercial ships are damaged by limpet mines in a tense standoff with the West. |
| 2025–26 | Iran-U.S./Israel Crisis | Amid conflict, Iran threatens to close the strait and deploys naval mines, effectively disrupting commercial shipping. |
The History of the Strait of Hormuz – 1507 to 1515
To understand what happened during the 16th century, you need to understand the structure of the Kingdom of Hormuz.
The Kingdom of Hormuz was a weak kingdom. It survived because of the fine balancing act. The Kingdom had three parts:
Part 1 of the Kingdom of Hormuz: The Islands:
- The Main Island: The city of Hormuz (also called Jerun, Jarun, or Djarun) was the political and commercial heart of the kingdom.
- Qishm Island: The food provider for the Kingdom of Hormuz
- Other Islands: Not critical but strategically important
Part 2 of the Kingdom of Hormuz: The Iranian Mainland
- Included parts of Mughistan, Minab, Manujan, and Vashkird. As you can understand, for any island city, it needs a connection to the outer world via a mainland. The Iranian mainland is the channel through which the heart of the Kingdom – the island city – got food and water.
Part 3 of the Kingdom of Hormuz: The Dependent Arabian Coast
- Regions included – alhat, Quriyat, Muscat (Masqat), Tibi, Julfar, Daba, and Bahrain. Now you know why Arabian countries always remain subservient to the US – being a dependent is in their DNA. Anyway, let’s not drift.
- As with any dependent regions – these regions provided more revenue. But they were not as important as the Iranian core region for the survival of the Kingdom of Hormuz.
The Balancing Act
Who was the ruler of the Kingdom of Hormuz at that time? Salghur Shah.
Was he independent? Mostly. He (hece the Kingdom) had to pay an annual tribute to Iran’s Safavid shahs. But it was too nominal.
Why did Iran’s Safavi Shahs not attack the Kingdom of Hormuz: Firstly, at that time the mainland Iran had no navy. The Safavids lacked a navy to threaten Hormuz directly, but they could disrupt caravan routes or seize the Iranian mainland, cutting off the kingdom’s water and supplies. Hormuz, in turn, could blockade trade to the Persian Gulf, harming Safavid interests. Both sides avoided direct conflict because it was not in their economic or political interest
The Dogfight Begins
The status quo lasted till the Portuguese arrived. In 1507, the Portuguese attacked Hormuz, and by 1515, they established control, turning the kingdom into a vassal state. The Safavids protested but were unable to act due to internal conflicts and the lack of a navy. In 1622, the Safavid ruler Abbas I, with English naval support, expelled the Portuguese and reclaimed Hormuz, ending its independence
The Blockade of Hormuz During This Period (1507 to 1622)
The Portuguese, led by Afonso de Albuquerque, first attacked Hormuz in 1507. They imposed a tribute and began constructing a fort, but left temporarily due to internal disputes among their ranks. They returned in 1515 and established full control, turning Hormuz into a vassal state and using it as a base to dominate trade in the Persian Gulf. The Portuguese used their naval superiority to control access to Hormuz, effectively blockading the strait and redirecting trade through their own networks. This allowed them to monopolize the lucrative spice and silk trade between Asia and Europe.
As the Portuguese hogtied Hormuz (so to speak, *wink*), Iranians were helpless. Why? They did not have navy! They fueled local rebellion, but those were like poodle in the face of bulldogs. Finally, Shah Abbas I of Persia, with the help of the English East India Company’s navy, launched a joint campaign to expel the Portuguese. The English fleet blockaded Hormuz, cutting off Portuguese reinforcements and supplies. This led to the capture of Hormuz in 1622, ending over a century of Portuguese dominance
British Blockade: The Mossadegh Crisis
Fast forward to the 20th century. In 1951, Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh nationalized the Anglo‑Iranian Oil Company. Enraged, Britain dispatched the Royal Navy to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, choking off Iran’s oil exports. It was the first time the strait was weaponized in the modern era. The blockade, combined with a CIA‑backed coup in 1953, toppled Mossadegh and cemented Western control over Iranian oil. The incident foreshadowed the strait’s role as a geopolitical lever.
The Tanker War and American Intervention
The Iran‑Iraq War (1980–1988) turned the strait into a war zone. Both sides attacked oil tankers in a bid to cripple each other’s economies, a campaign known as the “Tanker War.” Mines were laid, missiles fired, and hundreds of ships were damaged. By 1987, the violence threatened to strangle global oil supplies. The United States stepped in, reflagging Kuwaiti tankers and escorting them through the strait under Operation Earnest Will. The mission escalated tensions: an Iraqi missile struck the USS Stark, killing 37 sailors, and in 1988, the USS Vincennes mistakenly shot down Iran Air Flight 655, killing 290 civilians. Yet through it all, the strait never shut completely.
21st‑Century Flashpoints
As Iran’s nuclear program advanced, so did threats to close the strait. In 2019, after the U.S. withdrew from the nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions, Iran seized the British‑flagged tanker Stena Impero, escalating a tit‑for‑tat that saw oil prices spike. Similar brinksmanship played out in 2025 during a brief air conflict between Iran and Israel. Each time, the strait remained open—until now.
The 2026 Closure
On February 28, 2026, following a joint U.S.‑Israeli operation that targeted Iranian nuclear facilities and killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iran retaliated with missile barrages on Israeli cities and U.S. bases across the Gulf. The Revolutionary Guard then announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, warning ships that passage was “not allowed.” Major shipping firms like Maersk immediately suspended transits; over 150 tankers anchored outside the waterway. Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel, and analysts warned of a global energy crisis if the closure persisted. For the first time, the strait was effectively sealed.
Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters
The numbers tell the story:
- 20–21 million barrels of oil transit the strait every day—roughly 20–30% of global oil consumption.
- One‑third of the world’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes through the same narrow channel.
- The top destinations are China, India, Japan, and South Korea, economies that rely on Gulf oil to keep their factories running and lights on.
- At its narrowest, the strait is only 21 miles wide, making it vulnerable to blockades, mines, or anti‑ship missiles.
No alternative routes can replace this chokepoint. Pipelines from the Gulf have limited capacity, and rerouting tankers around Africa adds weeks to voyages and drives up costs. The global economy is tethered to the free flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.