It is well known that the Strait of Hormuz is not merely a commercial and oil shipping route; it also serves as another type of passage. What, then, is that other passage?

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Haydari Nazar

26

Yes, and most likely what you heard refers to more than one type of passage within the Strait of Hormuz, rather than there being a “second strait” that is secret or a separate route for oil.

There is a very important point here:

1. Shipping lanes for commercial vessels

The Strait of Hormuz has a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since 1968, at the initiative of Iran and Oman. It divides vessel traffic into opposing lanes to reduce the risk of collisions.

In simple terms:

Gulf → Hormuz → Gulf of Oman
Outbound vessel lane
Inbound vessel lane
A separation zone between them.

These lanes are not reserved for oil alone; oil and gas tankers, commercial vessels, cargo ships, and other vessels use the navigation system.

2. There is also a “coastal passage” or alternative routes

This may be what you heard about.

Under normal circumstances, there is a designated navigation system. However, during the recent crisis, alternative routes/passages close to the Iranian or Omani coasts emerged. Under the current emergency arrangements, Iran is responsible for directing traffic along the northern route, while Oman is responsible for the southern route.

This is very important in relation to what we discussed earlier about Iran’s statement that Hormuz will not return to its previous status.

The issue could therefore shift from:

“All vessels use the normal international traffic system”

to:

“Passage takes place through designated routes, under the coordination and management of the coastal states, particularly Iran on the northern side.”

This did in fact occur temporarily under the 2026 arrangements. The International Maritime Organization stated that the old Traffic Separation Scheme should not be used because of reports of mines, and that navigation would instead be regulated through specific instructions and routes coordinated by the coastal states.

There is another possibility that may be what you meant

If you heard that “there is another passage in Hormuz besides the commercial and oil route,” it may refer to routes used by military vessels or routes that naval vessels can use under certain circumstances.

Here, two things must be distinguished:

Navigation lane ≠ military passage.

According to the navigational sources I reviewed, there is no “secret military channel” inside Hormuz running parallel to the commercial shipping lanes. However, military vessels have different capabilities and rules of movement, and they can use maritime routes that do not necessarily coincide with the traffic patterns of commercial tankers.

Most importantly, Hormuz is not merely an oil channel; it is a strategic maritime gateway for all maritime traffic between the Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea.