The Strait of Hormuz has long stood at the center of global energy and trade, a narrow maritime corridor whose importance has only deepened over time. Historically, it has functioned as a resilient artery; even during the Iran-Iraq War, when oil tankers were targeted in the so-called “Tanker War,” commercial shipping never fully ceased. This continuity reinforced the strait’s reputation as a passage that, despite threats and geopolitical tension, remained open for business. That historical precedent makes the current crisis especially significant, as it challenges a decades-long assumption of uninterrupted flow.