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Iran’s actions in Strait of Hormuz
Why is it in news?
- Iran said that it seized a British oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, a fresh escalation in the strategic waterway that has become a flashpoint in tensions between Tehran and the West.
More in news
- Non-compliance with international maritime laws and regulations: Iran argued that the tanker Stena Impero was taken to an Iranian port because it was not complying with international maritime laws and regulations.
- Reasons behind the tension:(1) Tensions in the region have been growing since the Trump administration withdrew a year ago from Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.(2) After the withdrawal, the U.S. imposed harsh sanctions, including on Tehran’s oil trade that have sent the Iranian economy into a tailspin.
Strait of Hormuz
- The waterway separates Iran and Oman.
- It links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
- Most crude exported from OPEC Countries is shipped through this waterway.
- It is also used by the Qatar which is world’s biggest LNG exporter.
