Tensions are brewing between the US and Iran. Yesterday, a US F-35-C jet shot down an Iranian drone heading towards USS Abraham Lincoln. If a war breaks out, Tehran is likely to block the Strait of Hormuz, which could adversely affect India and China.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage between Iran and Oman. It is one of the most strategic global energy pressure points, and any disruption here will adversely impact Asia, Europe, and beyond.
At its narrowest point, it is only 33 km wide. The navigable lane is not more than 10 km, with about 3 km of passage for outbound traffic and 3 km for inbound traffic.
The northern side of the strait is controlled by Iran, which has hilly terrain. From these hills, Iran can effectively monitor traffic flowing through the strait using radar. It can also deploy air defence and surface-to-surface weapons on these mountains to control who enters or exits the strait.