The Strait of Hormuz is considered the world's most important gateway for oil transport. Hostilities between Iran and Israel have raised fears that shipping and crude flows through the narrow waterway may now slow down.

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 Foundation for Defense of Democracies, in a policy briefing published Monday, stated: “US forces in the Middle East are under attack and are defending Israel from Iranian-backed aggression. Iran’s leaders continue to threaten to close the Strait of Hormuz - a critical energy chokepoint.”