By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
The United States military has destroyed more than a dozen Iranian mine-laying vessels to prevent the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway serves as the primary artery for the global energy supply. Tension has escalated as the war in Iran brings tanker traffic to a standstill.
The Islamic Republic has vowed to block regional oil exports. Tehran officials stated they would not allow “even a single liter” to be shipped to its enemies. This blockade has caused oil prices to swing sharply on international markets.
The Scale of a Vital Passageway
The Strait of Hormuz is a “bending waterway” only 33 kilometers wide at its narrowest point, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. Approximately 20% of the world’s oil and natural gas passes through this passage. Historically, this route facilitated the movement of ceramics, ivory, silk, and textiles from China; today, it is the lifeblood for supertankers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE. Any prolonged disruption threatens to destabilize economies far beyond the Middle East.
Economic Stakes for Africa and the World
The scale of the crisis is immense. Market analysts warn that a full closure of the strait would have catastrophic results. A full or near full closure lasting a month or more would push crude oil prices “well into triple digits” and European natural gas prices “toward or above the crisis levels seen in 2022.”
“The scale of what is at stake cannot be overstated,” said Hakan Kaya, senior portfolio manager at investment management firm Neuberger Berman. He noted that while short disruptions are manageable, a month-long closure would push energy prices toward record levels.
For emerging markets in Africa, including Ghana, rising fuel costs often translate to rapid inflation. The U.S. Energy Information Administration says “most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region.” While Saudi Arabia and the UAE possess some pipelines, they cannot replace the capacity of the waterway.
Military Confrontation and Maritime Safety
President Donald Trump confirmed the destruction of 16 inactive Iranian mine-laying ships. He warned that the United States would increase attacks if Tehran attempted to seal the passage. Despite these strikes, Iran has been targeting “energy infrastructure” and traffic through the strait. Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), confirmed that the U.S. has now struck over 5,500 targets inside Iran, including more than 60 ships. This includes the total elimination of the Soleimani-class warships, with the final vessel of the four-ship class taken out of the fight this week.
Global shipping giants have already responded to the danger. Maersk has suspended all vessel crossings until further notice. “Those ships that got stuck in the Gulf are not going anywhere,” said Tom Goldsby, logistics chairman at the University of Tennessee. Currently, about 400 tankers sit idle in the Gulf.
The U.S. is launching a $20 billion reinsurance facility through the International Development Finance Corp to protect firms against financial losses. This political risk insurance focuses on “insuring cargo and physical damage to a ship’s structure and operating machinery.” President Trump also suggested the U.S. Navy may eventually escort tankers through the narrows.
Dismantling the Defense Industrial Base
Under “Operation Epic Fury,” the U.S. is shifting focus from immediate threats to neutralizing future capabilities. CENTCOM reported a massive strike on Tuesday night against a “large ballistic missile manufacturing facility.” Commanders state the U.S. is methodically dismantling Iran’s defense industrial base through hourly strike waves. This strategy aims to permanently end Tehran’s ability to project power or harass shipping from the air.
Human Cost of a Widening Conflict
The war has entered its twelfth day with a rising death toll. Iran has launched its “most intense operation since the beginning of the war,” firing advanced ballistic missiles toward Tel Aviv and Haifa. More than 1,200 people have been killed in Iran by Israeli and American strikes. In Lebanon, the prime minister’s office said 570 people had been killed in Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets.
Tensions have been further inflamed by a “deadly school strike” in southern Iran. Images have emerged showing fragments of “American-made missiles” at the scene where scores of children died.
The conflict has also touched West African citizens. Authorities in Dubai reported that two Ghanaian nationals, one person from Bangladesh, and one Indian national were injured by two drones near the international airport. This highlights the global reach of the current instability.
A Legacy of Maritime Conflict
The current crisis mirrors the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, when both sides used naval mines to “completely shut down traffic at points.” While Iran previously held back during last year’s 12-day war, the current posture is far more aggressive.
Amid the violence, Yousef Pezeshkian, son of Iran’s President, posted that while Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei was injured, “by the grace of God, he is safe.” An Israeli official confirmed that intelligence assessments concluded the leader was lightly wounded.
Future of Global Oil Markets
The International Energy Agency has proposed the largest release of oil reserves in its history to calm the markets. This move follows a brief price spike after ships were attacked by unknown projectiles near Oman. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported a cargo vessel hit 11 nautical miles north of Oman where the “crew are evacuating.”
Diplomatic shifts are also appearing in Washington. The Trump administration recently issued a waiver allowing Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil already at sea. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this only authorized transactions for oil “already stranded at sea.”
The Global Crossroads of De-escalation
As the international community watches the 33-kilometer-wide passage, the focus remains on whether diplomacy can outpace military escalation. For the African continent, the stakes are deeply localized.
Any sustained blockade of the Strait of Hormuz threatens to trigger record-breaking domestic inflation in countries like Ghana, where the erratic spike in landing costs for refined petroleum could derail regional trade frameworks.
With a French-led initiative now in the works to help escort tankers, the coming days will determine if global energy markets can recover. For now, the world remains braced for the fallout. World leaders must balance the urgent need for regional stability against the mounting human and economic costs of a war with no clear end in sight.
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