Iran’s threat to shut Homruz comes as a vessel crashed into two ships sailing nearby, 22 nautical miles east of Khor Fakkan in the UAE. The Emirati national guard said it evacuated 24 people from an oil tanker after the collision.

Strait of Hormuz is used for exporting crude oil to Asia by members of OPEC including Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq

Reports indicate tankers are on fire near the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, raising concerns about maritime security and global oil trade.

The Emirati national guard says it has evacuated 24 people from an oil tanker after a collision between two ships just east of the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Oman and Iran, connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. The strait is deep enough and wide enough to handle the world's largest crude oil tankers,

While Tehran has frequently threatened to block the waterway in response to military pressure or sanctions, the prospect becomes far more plausible if the conflict with Israel explodes into a full-scale war.

Tensions at the Strait of Hormuz risk 20M bpd in crude oil flow, fueling a sharp rally in oil futures and boosting market volatility.

Middle East tensions prompt ship diversions from Strait of Hormuz as Gulf-to-China freight rates surge 24%, fuelling concerns over oil and shipping disruption.

British maritime security firm Ambrey said that the incident was not security-related, as the days-long conflict between Israel and Iran, which is just across the Strait of Hormuz from neighbouring Oman,

A blaze that’s been spotted in waters off the United Arab Emirates and near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz is not security related, according to a maritime risk management firm active in the area.