Straits of Tiran

The Straits of Tiran are a narrow maritime passage situated at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, connecting it to the Red Sea. Flanked by the Sinai Peninsula to the north-west and Tiran Island to the south-east, the straits hold immense strategic, economic, and geopolitical significance in Middle Eastern and global maritime history. Control over these waters has been a central factor in regional conflicts, particularly those involving Egypt, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

Geographic and Strategic Overview

The Straits of Tiran form the southern entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba, a long and narrow arm of the Red Sea bordered by Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. The straits themselves are approximately 13 kilometres wide, but the navigable channels are narrower, divided by reefs and islands into distinct waterways.
The main channels are:

• Enterprise Passage – closest to the Sinai coast, suitable for smaller vessels.
• Grafton Passage – the central channel, less navigable.
• Tiran Passage – between Tiran Island and Saudi Arabia, used by deep-draft ships entering or leaving the Gulf.

These channels provide Israel’s only maritime access to the Red Sea and beyond, through the port of Eilat, and also connect Jordan’s port of Aqaba to global trade routes. As such, freedom of navigation through the Straits of Tiran has long been considered vital for regional economic stability and international shipping.

Historical Background

The straits have been of historical importance for centuries as a maritime link between the Mediterranean world and the Indian Ocean, used by traders and pilgrims travelling to Mecca. However, their modern strategic relevance emerged in the mid-20th century, with the establishment of the State of Israel and the rise of Arab-Israeli tensions.
Following Israel’s creation in 1948, access to the Gulf of Aqaba became a contentious issue. Egypt, which controlled the Sinai Peninsula and Tiran Island, claimed sovereignty over the straits and sought to restrict Israeli navigation, viewing it as an extension of the broader Arab-Israeli conflict.

The Suez Crisis and Blockade of 1956

In 1950, Egypt occupied Tiran Island and Sanafir Island with Saudi Arabian consent, effectively taking control of the straits. By 1951, Israel asserted its right to free passage through the Straits of Tiran, citing international maritime law. However, Egypt imposed a blockade on Israeli shipping, barring access to the port of Eilat and preventing the transport of vital goods, including oil from the Persian Gulf.
This blockade was one of the key factors leading to the Suez Crisis (1956). In October 1956, Israel, in coordination with Britain and France, launched a military campaign against Egypt following the nationalisation of the Suez Canal by President Gamal Abdel Nasser. Israeli forces captured the Sinai Peninsula and secured the Straits of Tiran, reopening the Gulf of Aqaba to Israeli vessels.
Following international pressure, particularly from the United States and the United Nations, Israel withdrew from Sinai in March 1957. The United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) was then deployed along the border and on Tiran Island to ensure continued freedom of navigation for all states.

The 1967 Blockade and the Six-Day War

Tensions over the straits resurfaced in May 1967, when Egypt demanded the withdrawal of UNEF and once again closed the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping. President Nasser declared the blockade an assertion of Egyptian sovereignty, but for Israel, it represented an act of war, as it cut off the country’s only maritime route to the Indian Ocean.
On 5 June 1967, Israel launched a pre-emptive strike against Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, beginning the Six-Day War. Within days, Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula, Gaza Strip, West Bank, and Golan Heights. The reopening of the Straits of Tiran to Israeli shipping was among Israel’s major objectives, which it achieved by the end of the conflict.
Following the war, Israel occupied the Sinai Peninsula and maintained control over Tiran Island and the surrounding waterways until the early 1980s.

Legal and Diplomatic Developments

The Camp David Accords (1978) and the subsequent Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty (1979) established a lasting framework for managing the straits. Under the treaty:

• Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula, including the Straits of Tiran area.
• Egypt guaranteed freedom of navigation through the Straits of Tiran and the Gulf of Aqaba for all nations.
• The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) was established to monitor compliance, replacing the former UNEF.

This legal recognition of open passage helped stabilise maritime trade and reduced the potential for future military escalation over the straits.

Recent Developments and Sovereignty Issues

In the 21st century, the status of Tiran and Sanafir islands has re-emerged as a subject of regional negotiation. In 2016, Egypt announced an agreement to transfer sovereignty of the two islands to Saudi Arabia, confirming that they were originally Saudi territory placed under Egyptian control in 1950.
The move required Israel’s approval under the 1979 Peace Treaty, as it affected navigation rights in the straits. After diplomatic consultations involving Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, the transfer was finalised in 2022, with all parties reaffirming the commitment to maintain freedom of passage for civilian and commercial shipping.
The islands are now under Saudi control, while the MFO continues to monitor the area to ensure that international maritime agreements are upheld.

Economic and Geopolitical Importance

The Straits of Tiran continue to serve as a critical maritime corridor for trade and energy transport. Both Israel’s port of Eilat and Jordan’s port of Aqaba rely on open access to the Red Sea for imports and exports. In addition, the region has become an important zone for tourism and marine biodiversity, particularly around Tiran Island, which is known for its coral reefs and diving sites.
Strategically, the straits lie at the intersection of several major geopolitical spheres—the Middle East, the Horn of Africa, and South Asia. They remain significant in discussions surrounding energy security, Red Sea navigation, and regional alliances.
With the normalisation of relations between Israel and several Arab states under the Abraham Accords, the Red Sea region is witnessing growing prospects for economic cooperation, infrastructure development, and secure maritime transport routes.

Environmental and Maritime Aspects

Beyond their geopolitical relevance, the Straits of Tiran are ecologically rich. The surrounding marine environment supports vibrant coral ecosystems, tropical fish, and seabirds. However, increased maritime activity, tourism, and potential oil transport raise concerns about environmental protection and sustainable management.
International and regional initiatives now focus on balancing economic use with marine conservation, recognising the straits as both a strategic and natural asset.

Legacy and Contemporary Relevance

The Straits of Tiran occupy a unique place in Middle Eastern history as both a trigger of conflict and a symbol of peace. Once a flashpoint that ignited wars, they are now emblematic of the fragile yet enduring compromises that sustain regional stability.