Gulf states scramble for an alternative to Strait of Hormuz

Iran and Gulf states are actively seeking alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping route that has been blocked by Iranian officials. The United States claims control over the waterway, stating that it has cleared it of mines. Saudi Arabia has successfully redirected a significant portion of its crude exports through the East-West Pipeline, which transports oil from the kingdom's eastern fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, thus bypassing the Hormuz Strait entirely.

In April and May of the previous year, Saudi cargo shipments through this pipeline dropped from 47.5 million tons to just 6.3 million tons, while exports through the Red Sea increased from 29.6 million to 54.8 million tons, effectively replacing approximately 61% of the volume lost in the Persian Gulf. The UAE has also attempted to diversify its shipping routes by expanding its capacity through the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP) and other ports, but has faced challenges due to its proximity to Iran and the ongoing security threats.

Alternative solutions, such as new pipelines connecting Iraq with Oman and Jordan, as well as longer sea routes around Africa, have been proposed but are considered too costly and time-consuming to implement quickly. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested the possibility of oil pipelines reaching Israeli Mediterranean ports, bypassing Hormuz and Bab-al-Mandab entirely.

However, experts warn that these alternatives are not foolproof, as drones and missiles pose threats to alternative routes as well.