Has the Strait of Hormuz ever been closed or blocked before?
Posted on Feb 28, 2026 / Travel
Although Iran and other Gulf actors have threatened to close or disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz many times during past tensions, it hasn’t actually been fully shut down in modern history. During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, both sides attacked oil tankers, and shipping dropped sharply, but the strait itself stayed open for international traffic. Threats to close the strait tend to send markets and governments into high alert, because the damage to global trade and oil prices could be massive if it happened. Even today, Iran’s military or politicians sometimes warn that shipping won’t be allowed in times of conflict, which stokes fears and uncertainty. But completely closing the strait would be extremely difficult and would likely bring swift military and diplomatic responses from multiple countries. Instead, the risk usually shows up as higher insurance costs for tankers, rerouting decisions, or traders pausing shipments. Those real-world reactions show how fragile the situation feels without actually ending the strait’s operations.
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