| − | The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway connecting the [[Persian Gulf]] to the [[Arabian Sea]]. Iran lies to the north of the strait, while an exclave of [[Oman]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]] lie to the south. Control over the strait determines control over the supply of oil from the Gulf nations to the rest of the world; therefore the [[United States]] and its allies have kept naval forces in the area for many years to guard against threats (implicit and explicit) by Iran to control passage. | + | The '''Strait of Hormuz''' is an international waterway connecting the [[Persian Gulf]] to the [[Arabian Sea]]. Iran lies to the north of the strait, while an exclave of [[Oman]] and the [[United Arab Emirates]] lie to the south. Control over the strait determines control over the supply of oil from the Gulf nations to the rest of the world; therefore the [[United States]] and its allies have kept naval forces in the area for many years to guard against threats (implicit and explicit) by Iran to control passage. |