Plans to secure shipping in vital sea passage
The U.S. is analysing how to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz – through which around 20% of the world’s oil and gas travel, after three cargo vessels were hit by missiles and 16 Iranian minelayers destroyed
At least 11 tankers have been struck in and around Strait since Mar 1
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps naval bases 
Deep-water shipping lane
Maritime boundary
Iranian attack on vessel
40km
25 miles
Map detail
IRAQ
IRAN
SAUDI ARABIA
IRAN
Sirri
Jask
Qeshm
Dubai
Larak Island
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
OMAN
OMAN
Abu Dhabi
Abu Musa
Occupied by Iran
PERSIAN GULF
STRAIT OF HORMUZ
Fujairah
Bandar-e-Abbas
OMAN
IRAN
Shipping lanes are two nautical miles wide (2,700m), separated by buffer zone
Escort missions could be carried out by destroyers  or frigates – with air cover
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers:
USS Michael Murphy, USS Spruance, USS Frank E. Petersen Jr.
Multi-layered threat
Drones
Fast attack vessels
Mini-subs
Sea mines
Sources: Institute for the Study of War, Reuters, BBC
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