Conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz: Implications Towards Oman and Iran
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Abstract
Abstract: The Strait of Hormuz is a vital global oil chokepoint that links the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. It contains narrow international shipping lines in the territorial waters of Iran and Oman, and the narrowest point is only two kilometres wide. Nevertheless, major powers have devoted their interest in the Strait especially the United States of America. This research has been conducted to analyse the factor of the conflict in the Straits of Hormuz and its implications towards Iran and Oman. The objectives of this research are i) to identify the importance of the Strait of Hormuz; ii) to examine the causes and impacts of the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz towards Iran and Oman; and iii) to analyse the potential cooperation between Iran and Oman in handling the conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz. This research has used qualitative approaches and secondary data were the main sources. The concepts of power and national interest have been used to explain the issues. The findings of this research are i) the strategic location of the Strait of Hormuz became a factor of conflicts as it was the SLOC to economic activities and strategic purpose; ii) the conflicts in the Straits of Hormuz will cause the decline of economic activities and the straits became the battlefield to both countries; and, iii) both countries should use diplomacy to settle their crisis as if it escalating, it will bring disaster to each side.
Keywords: Iran, Oman, Persian Gulf, SLOC, the Strait of Hormuz.
DOI: 10.17576/sinergi.0302.2023.08
Article information: Submission date: 23 June 2023; Acceptance date: 25 July 2023; Publication Date: 31 December 2023.
Declaration and acknowledgement: The Authors would like to show their gratitude to SINERGI’s anonymous reviewers and their constructive feedback in improving the quality of the manuscript. Authors are also immensely grateful for their comments on earlier versions of the draft. No potential conflict of interest was reported.
Abstrak: Selat Hormuz merupakan kawasan yang mempunyai banyak minyak global di mana ia pentinf untuk menghubungkan Teluk Parsi dan Teluk Oman ke Lautan Hindi dan Laut Arab. Ia merupakan laluan perkapalan antarabangsa yang sempit di perairan wilayah Iran dan Oman selebar hanya dua kilometer. Namun begitu, kuasa besar telah menumpukan kepentingan mereka di Selat itu terutamanya Amerika Syarikat. Penyelidikan ini telah dijalankan untuk menganalisis faktor konflik di Selat Hormuz dan implikasinya terhadap Iran dan Oman. Objektif penyelidikan ini adalah i) mengenal pasti kepentingan Selat Hormuz; ii) mengkaji punca dan kesan konflik di Selat Hormuz terhadap Iran dan Oman; dan iii) menganalisis potensi kerjasama antara Iran dan Oman dalam menangani konflik di Selat Hormuz. Penyelidikan ini menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif dan data sekunder menjadi sumber utama. Konsep kuasa dan kepentingan negara telah digunakan untuk menjelaskan isu-isu tersebut. Dapatan kajian ini ialah i) lokasi Selat Hormuz yang strategik menjadi faktor konflik kerana ia merupakan SLOC kepada aktiviti ekonomi dan tujuan strategik, ii) konflik di Selat Hormuz akan menyebabkan kemerosotan aktiviti ekonomi dan Selat menjadi medan perang kepada kedua-dua negara; dan iii) kedua-dua negara harus menggunakan diplomasi untuk menyelesaikan krisis mereka seolah-olah ia semakin memuncak, ia akan membawa bencana kepada setiap pihak.
Kata kunci: Iran, Oman, Teluk Parsi, SLOC, Selat Hormuz.
DOI: 10.17576/sinergi.0302.2023.08
Maklumat artikel: Tarikh Penghantaran: 23 Jun 2023; Tarikh penerimaan: 25 Julai 2023; Tarikh penerbitan: 31 Disember 2023.
Penghargaan dan pengisytiharan: Para penulis ingin merakamnkan rasa terima kasih mereka kepada pengulas tanpa nama SINERGI dan maklum balas membina mereka dalam meningkatkan kualiti manuskrip. Pengarang juga amat berterima kasih atas komen mereka pada versi awal draf. Tiada potensi konflik kepentingan dilaporkan.
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