THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND IRAN’S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND IRAN’S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Yusuf SAYIN & Fatih KILIC

ABSTRACT
The demand for energy in the world is increasing day by day, and for the countries that have an energy deficit, the uninterrupted and safe energy trade has vital importance. An important part of energy trade is provided by the sea and this makes the strategic straits more valuable than ever before in history. The most important of these straits is the Strait of Hormuz (SH), which is a key to the transportation of the Middle Eastern oil and that natural gas flow to Europe, the South Asia and the Pacific. The SH has attracted the attention of the whole world due to the recent diplomatic crisis between the US and Iran. In the event that Iran does not terminate its nuclear activities, the US’s declaration on blocking the Iran’s petroleum trade and Iran’s announcement in shutting down the SH directly to sea trade have increased the tension in the region. It is inevitable that these potential initiatives seriously disrupt the world energy trade. In this regard, the policies of China, India and Turkey, whose economic growths base on energy import, have been a subject of discussion. The aim of this paper is to examine the strategic, economic, and politic importance of the Strait of Hormuz and Effects on Iran’s international relations and foreign policy. The paper has the purpose of revealing the attitudes and policies of international actors on the SH and regional politics.

KEYWORDS: The Strait of Hormuz, Iran, Turkey, USA, South Asia

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