Strait of Hormuz

A critical waterway that Iran seeks to control, serving as a major point of contention in the negotiations.

“Because the Venn diagram of on one side you have Trump requiring a deal that is better than the JCPOA, the Obama deal, because he said that deal was the worst deal ever made. On the other side, you have Iran in a stronger position than when the war began, want…”

A critical waterway now under Iranian control, serving as a major point of geopolitical tension.

“Like, this piece made me think about the, so, like, not the str- I, I knew about the strategic importance of the strait, but just w- from Iran's perspective now, they've got the control. Even they get some sanctions relief, they're gonna have to get a lot more…”

A strategic waterway that China might offer to help reopen in exchange for concessions.

“I mean, I, I, first of all, I'm just skeptical that China could actually force Iran to reopen the strait and kind of go back to the before times because if you're, like, China buys 90% of Iran's oil, but still, if you're Iran, you're thinking, "Look, we got a …”

Identified as a critical maritime chokepoint currently under Iranian control.

“Yeah, that's the part that's sort of, like, chilling about where we're at because we're in this sort of stalemate in which Trump looks like a loser. He can try to declare victory, but there'll still be the ongoing cost of us having kind of shown our might and …”

A critical geopolitical location where the public lacks understanding and where current tensions are centered.

“Only 26% say inconvenient but not difficult, and only 15% say, "Not affected. It's not an issue for me." Um, this is interesting. Are you getting a clear understanding of the situation in the Stra- in the Strait of Hormuz? 69% say, "I have no fucking clue what…”

A critical maritime chokepoint that could be closed, impacting global oil flow and US-China relations.

“Well, I think my, just from observation and reporting, in the short term, I think China's fine with the strait being closed 'cause it embarrasses the United States. The president may say Mr. Xi is a great friend of his, but I think China loves seeing the Unite…”

A critical maritime chokepoint whose blockage is driving up gas prices.

“I'm Michelle Martin, that's A Martinez, and this is Up First from NPR News. [music] A new inflation report out this morning will show just how much the war in Iran is impacting consumers. The blockage of the Strait of Hormuz has driven gas prices up. Airline t…”

A critical maritime chokepoint for oil tanker traffic.

“Yeah, this is not exactly the welcome mat that Kevin Warsh, President Trump's pick to be the new leader of the Fed, was hoping for. Unfortunately for Warsh and his colleagues, uh, there's not a whole lot they can do to address this energy supply shock, given t…”

The site of a crisis causing oil supply disruptions and price spikes, driving demand for Chinese renewable energy.

“Well, I'm looking at Chinese renewable energy exports. Um, and, uh, the reason I'm looking at this is, of course, because of the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, meaning that getting oil, uh, is more difficult and the price of oil has gone through the roof. Um,…”

The host identifies the region as a critical point for the upcoming global financial recession due to oil supply concerns.

“every... And the, the, the UK news is so much better than the American news. It is so much more in depth. The people are scary looking on the UK news, like the actual anchors are terrifying looking. So you know how bad things are, like, immediately. As soon as…”

Discussed regarding whether the waterway is open for business amidst regional conflict.

“Yo, is, is the Strait of Hormuz open for business?”

Netanyahu allegedly convinced Trump that the strait would not be at risk during a conflict with Iran.

“This is what they're saying to him, and then this is what he's responding is, "Obama wasn't man enough to do it. George Bush wasn't man enough to do it. He knows what has to be done. He's willing to do it." And he's ill informed enough to believe that it makes…”

Identified as a critical chokepoint vulnerable to Iranian military action that could disrupt global oil supplies.

“Force and Army in, in UAE, and I didn't know in Oman, but yeah, of course, in Oman, they had, you know, some naval presence there as well. So, and they knew then that all of that stuff will be up for grabs, and then the Strait of Hormuz will also be at risk. A…”

Mentioned as a strategic waterway where Iran might levy taxes if the US withdraws its military presence.

“... I won." Yeah. But we don't really need these bases over there. The American people don't need to dominate the Middle East. We're not worried about the Soviet Union invading Iran and dominating the Gulf anymore, so forget the Carter Doctrine. Let's just com…”

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is impacting global oil markets.

“I wanna run through, uh, just two other foreign policy things real quick. Ukraine successfully attacked inside Moscow this, this weekend. Very interesting. Attacked a, uh, oil refinery in Moscow. Big crackdown in Russia on people sharing video and-- of what's …”

A critical maritime chokepoint that the speakers fear is being left vulnerable to Iranian control.

“Just what you say. I mean, I think Jack Keane is in touch with people in the administration, including up to the very top, and I, I think he also wishes-- You know, he has this sort of, I, I don't know what even to call it, the view at this point. I was gonna …”

Used as a metaphor by Bobby Lee to describe the experience of him and Theo Von being on different paths regarding their medication.

“I know. [laughs] Why? Like, through, the night of Hormuz, the Strait of Hormuz.”

A strategic waterway now under the control of the Iranian regime.

“my king, Xi. Xi, you're my king. You're my friend. We're friend. Don't do that." Right? Some of the original tacos Trump always chickens out, we saw with China when Donald Trump thought, "Ooh, we're gonna be so strong." No, you're going to China now looking li…”

Used as an example of the administration's inability to control strategic waterways despite massive spending.

“losers. They let Donald Trump push them around. They're bootlickers. They don't stand for anything. They're really just the lamest human beings. They're MAGA zombies. It's so bizarre and pitiful to watch these individuals behave so, I don't even know how to de…”

The location where a Citrini researcher conducted field work to collect first-party data on shipping routes.

“Uh, I'm, I'm not sure. They sell the research, so I don't think they, uh, they, they sell the research. I think they might have, like, a capital arm, but it's, like, pretty small, if I remember correctly. It's like, it's not a huge thing. So the-- [laughs] the…”

Mentioned as a critical waterway that was more secure during the Obama administration.

“Oh, wow. That was, that was some quote. That was like an ad. Like they just... He cut an ad for them. It was-- That was astonishing, I have to say. I mean, it's what I, it's what I think he thinks. And this nuclear weapon thing, we're less safe now than we wer…”

A strategic location that the White House stated both sides agreed must remain open.

“... in a way that I think is smart. Anyway, um, but he doesn't use it for... You know, he has a nice girlfriend, and he, you know, they get into beefs and this and that, but it's, um... But they're, they also have a relationship, and I think it's-- I think tha…”

Cited as a critical chokepoint contributing to the nitrogen-based fertilizer shortage.

“Brazil's crop fails, if Australia's wheat crop fails, Australia's wheat crop goes to places like Indonesia and the Philippines. Hundreds of millions of people depend on that, that wheat crop. Hundreds of millions of people depend on the exports out of Brazil. …”

A strategic waterway that China agreed should remain open.

“All right. Well, we have a big docket here. The Trump-Xi summit has begun. That is the number one story right now after a two-month delay because of the war in Iran. This is the first visit to China since 2017. Seventh face-to-face meeting for Trump and Presid…”

A critical maritime passage that President Trump hopes to keep open with China's help.

“The Chinese dynamic is fascinating. In fact, I went to China many years ago when Xi Jinping had first become the leader. I traveled with the Treasury Secretary at the time. This was during the Obama administration. And to see the way the Chinese kind of put on…”

Identified as a strategic chokepoint controlled by Iranian forces.

“The people around you. So when he was planning the war in Iran, and from the reporting that we know, people did say, "Well, you know, Mr. President, you know, the Iranians are not like the Venezuelans. It's a, it's a very embedded regime." And the Iranians had…”

Mentioned in the context of geopolitical uncertainty affecting oil markets.

“It is such a powerful thing whenever you have price signals, and I think Adam, Adam Smith, and, and now we're [laughs] again talking about finance and leisure, even he said, you know, with the invisible hand and everything that, that there are certain things y…”

Referenced as a geopolitical risk factor impacting supply chains.

“Yeah. I- I'm incredibly worried about it, and I think that's also why it's super important to try and keep as much of supply chains as local as, as local as possible, you know, as the Straits come, you know, or COVID or any of these things. We're almost more r…”