An up-close look at the Strait of Hormuz from both land and water

Geoff Bennett:

Well, the Strait of Hormuz has been the focus of this war since Iran churned it down in the war's first days, but rarely do American reporters actually get to visit this crucial body of water.

So, tonight, we have this rare look at the Strait of Hormuz from the land and on the water from special correspondent Reza Sayah, who was based in Iran.

Reza Sayah:

All right, here we are, the Strait of Hormuz. By the way, that's the correct pronunciation. It's Hormuz, not Hormuz.

This is the waterway that's made headlines over the past three months, the focal point of the conflict between Washington and Tehran, the waterway that's squeezed the global economy, the U.S. economy, and likely caused you to pay more of the gas pump.

Iranian authorities have granted us permission to come here and look around. There's no one accompanying us. We have our cameraman, Castro, behind the lens, Captain Audamid. And we're going to look around here and show you what it looks like these days in the Strait of Hormuz.

In all directions here, we see the impact of the conflict between Washington and Tehran, ship after ship stuck, sitting and waiting, the outcome of a three-month-long Iranian blockade of any commercial ship with links to what Tehran deems hostile nations.

Last month, Washington answered with its own naval blockade of ships traveling to and from Iranian ports. The United Nations says the competing blockades have stranded roughly 1,500 ships with more than 20,000 seafarers on board. Most of the international ships are anchored west of the strait, deep inside the Persian Gulf. Closer to the strait, we see mostly Iranian ships.

All right, this looks like an Iranian oil tanker. It has an Iranian flag. It says Qeshm on the hull, which is the name of a nearby island here in Iran. It is quite possible that this is one of the Iranian vessels being blocked in by the U.S. naval blockade.

We're going to see if we can talk to someone on board, see what they're carrying and how long they have been here.

(Speaking in foreign language)

Man:

(Speaking in foreign language)

Reza Sayah:

I asked them how long they have been anchored here, and they say they're not allowed to talk.

(Speaking in foreign language)

Man:

(Speaking in foreign language)

Reza Sayah:

I asked them what their cargo is. Again, they're not allowed to talk.

The narrowest section of the strait is about 24 miles wide, seemingly plenty of room for ships to pass through, but the waters here are shallow, with an average depth of 165 feet. That's less than half of a football field. The United Nations has recognized a traffic separation scheme for large ships with an inbound and outbound lane, each less than two miles wide.

Washington says international vessels are guaranteed the right of transit passage. Tehran says these are their territorial waters, authority belongs to them and Oman, whose coast borders the southern part of the strait. In the face-off over the strait and its blockade, both Iranian and U.S. forces have clashed, most recently this week.

On Monday, the Pentagon said U.S. jet fighters hit and destroyed a couple of IRGC speedboats in the Strait of Hormuz. These are the speedboats Iranian forces use to block some of these vessels from exiting the strait.

Behind me, and it's very difficult to see in the distance, is Larak Island. Many locals here say it is very likely that the Revolutionary Guard speedboats that were hit were somewhere around that island. Out of all the islands here, Larak sits deepest within the strait.

Iranian state media on Tuesday reported that a number of their Revolutionary Guard officers were martyred, but they didn't provide any other details.

One of more than a dozen islands that sit at or near the strait is Hormuz Island. Around 6,000 people live in this tiny resort destination that puts in view Iran's diversity. Along the beach, chic cafes serve the island's bohemian lifestyle.

A few blocks away, the island's conservative population holds their nightly rally in support of Iran's war with the United States and Israel. This is where we learned that three of the Revolutionary Guard members killed on Monday were from this island.

Ismael Hormuz says the island is small. Many knew the officers killed.

Ismael Hormuz, Hormuz Island Resident (through interpreter):

They were my friends. They were my family, my brothers, my friends. Just a few days ago, we were chanting slogans together. We were spending time together. Hormuz is an island where we all know one another. We're one.

Their bodies have still not been recovered. The remains have yet to be returned to their families. And they want us to sit at the negotiating table? No way.

Reza Sayah:

Mohammad Reza Nik says he knew the officers too. He says they gave their lives for Iran. Many here are willing to do the same.

Mohammad Reza Nik, Hormuz Island Resident (through interpreter):

Is the color of my blood different than theirs? It's not. We can all have the honor of martyrdom. Is my blood different from the supreme leader's blood? This is our duty. Whatever we have comes from this soil, from this country.

Reza Sayah:

Defending their country is their duty, many here say. And that includes defending the Strait of Hormuz, which remains a major flash point in the conflict between Washington and Tehran.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Reza Sayah in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran.