2011–2012 Strait of Hormuz dispute

2011–2012 Strait of Hormuz dispute
	; Strait of Hormuz highlighted by a red arrow on the image
Date	27 December 2011–2012
Location	Strait of Hormuz
Result	Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz; Multi-national flotilla established in Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea off coast of Iran; EU sanctions enforced, banning the export of oil from Iran to the EU countries and freezing Iranian assets;
Belligerents
United States; United Kingdom; France; Australia	Iran
Units involved
United States Navy; Royal Navy; French Navy; Royal Australian Navy	Islamic Republic of Iran Navy
Strength
2 aircraft carriers; 4 destroyers (3 Arleigh and 1 Daring); 4 Type 23 frigates; 2 Ticonderoga class cruisers	4 frigates
Casualties and losses
None	None

The 2011–12 Strait of Hormuz dispute was a dispute between a coalition of countries and Iran. The dispute arose on 27 December 2011, when Iranian Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz. In late April 2019, Iran warned that it would block maritime traffic through the strategic waterway if it were barred from using it, amid escalating U.S. sanctions.

Subsequently, a number of naval drills and missile tests were carried out by Iran. A coalition of countries responded by sending a flotilla of warships to deter any Iranian attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz and warned Iran publicly and through letters not to close the Strait.

The dispute was interjected by a European Union sanction banning oil exports from Iran to Europe on 23 January 2012 in an attempt to deter Iran from continuing with their nuclear program. In 2012, oil exports contributed to about 80% of Iranian public revenue, with roughly 20% being exported to Europe. Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea, which taken together account for 26% of Iran's oil exports, have expressed a willingness to reduce oil imports from Iran.