How to get through the Strait of Hormuz

Planet Money

NPR

News, Business

4.6 • 30.5K Ratings

🗓️ 14 April 2026

⏱️ 19 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The United States has been at war with Iran since February 28th. And for a month and a half, Iran’s main leverage over the U.S. has been their control over the Strait of Hormuz — a key global shipping route. Iran has attacked ships that try to pass without approval. And recently they’ve insinuated that one part of the Strait — the part near Oman — is not safe. Which means that captains had to go right by Iran’s shores to get through the Strait … effectively creating a chokepoint for the global economy.

On today’s show, a source inside Iran tells us how ships had been getting through the strait, and how the tollbooth Iran set up works. And we ask: What does this all mean for the global economy?

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Transcript

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0:00.0	You know, live events can generate a lot of income for towns and cities.
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0:22.1	No other reason.
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0:30.3	I'll be at one other stops.
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0:32.8	But it will be just as exciting as the ERAs tour.
0:36.2	Brand new stories, books signing from the team, some stops are going to have game theory games,
0:40.7	others will have big name interviews.
0:42.8	All of them are going to be filled with storytelling that explains how economics shapes your life.
0:47.8	Get a tote bag with your purchase while supplies last.
0:50.2	Think of it as our scarf.
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0:57.2	This is Planet Money from NPR.
1:03.0	Right now, as we record this show, Tuesday, April 14th, around 2 p.m. Eastern, Iran and the U.S. are still blocking marine traffic from
1:13.9	leaving the Persian Gulf. We have no idea how this is going to play out. But we do know that it
1:19.2	will have huge implications for the global economy. And for this guy.
	...

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