ABSTRACT
The Strait of Hormuz, even if it can be deemed to be – geographically speaking –
a simple international waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea,
is in reality a very important hub for the world economy. This is a fi gure that is
more signifi cant than any geo-strategic analysis: around 25 per cent of the world
exports of crude oil goes through Hormuz and the US, Europe and Japan respec-
tively receive, from this passage, around 15 per cent, 20 per cent and 70 per cent
of their import demands. The effects of an interruption of the transit through this
strait would be immediately evident and dramatic for the countries interested in
this vital fl ow. The episode of 6 January 2008, in which three US warships entered
into a ‘close encounter’ with Iranian naval units during the transit, has brought the
attention of the international community back onto the strait. The incident has
clearly shown that different interpretations concerning the international rules on
transit can create unpredictable confrontations.
