The Straits of Tiran are a narrow passage of water located between the Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba.
Importance: The Straits of Tiran are strategically important because they provide Israel with its only access to the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
International Waters: The Straits of Tiran are considered international waters, and they are governed by international maritime law.
History: The Straits of Tiran have been a source of tension between Israel and its Arab neighbors since the 1950s. In 1956, Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping, which was one of the causes of the Suez Crisis. The straits were reopened to Israeli shipping as part of the peace agreement with Egypt in 1979.
1967 War: The closure of the Straits of Tiran was one of the factors that led to the 1967 Six-Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Israel launched a preemptive strike against Egypt, and subsequently captured the Sinai Peninsula, including the Straits of Tiran.
Peace Treaty: As part of the peace treaty between Israel and Egypt signed in 1979, Egypt agreed to keep the Straits of Tiran open to Israeli shipping.
Freedom of Navigation: The United States has long maintained that the Straits of Tiran should remain open for international shipping, and the principle of freedom of navigation is a key element of US policy in the region.
Maritime Trade: The Straits of Tiran are an important route for maritime trade between Asia and Europe, with thousands of ships passing through the straits each year.