Why It's So Hard to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz

[dalton99a]

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/03/24/world/middleeast/strait-of-hormuz-difficulties-iran-trump.html

Why It’s So Hard to Reopen the Strait of Hormuz
By Agnes Chang, Adina Renner and Samuel Granados
March 24, 2026

Hundreds of oil tankers are idling at either end of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, responding to attacks by the United States and Israel, has effectively blockaded it.

As soaring oil prices rattle the global economy, President Trump has vowed to reopen the shipping route “one way or another.” But short of a deal with Iran or a dangerous, prolonged occupation, experts warn, it will be hard to fully restore traffic in the strait.

Here’s why.

The strait is narrow and shallow, forcing ships within miles of Iran’s mountainous shores, a landscape that favors asymmetric warfare tactics, in which Iran uses weapons that are small, widely dispersed and hard for adversaries to eliminate completely.

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[surfered]

1. Thanks.

[maxsolomon]

2. I think everyone was aware of the geographical challenges by now, NYT.

Even 1 ship sunk in the Strait and the global energy market is fucked. They're not going through while there's still a shooting war.

[Johonny]

3. China and India just bribing Iran

Essentially, the quickest way out for most countries will be to pay Iran to let their ships through.