Why the US and Iran are fighting over this tiny waterway

August 22, 2019
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Vox Atlas - S3 - E5

Why the US and Iran are fighting over this tiny waterway

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway that lies between Iran and Oman. This 21 mile-wide passage supports 20% of the world’s oil supply. A closure of this waterway could send the global economy into a tailspin. In recent months, several oil tankers have been seized, attacked and harassed. These oil tankers — and this narrow water passage — are at the center of the conflict between the US and Iran. It's a conflict that spans decades and has the potential to escalate in one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints.

Vox Atlas: Season 3 - 9 Episode s