Straits of Tiran

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The Straits of Tiran

The Straits of Tiran ( مضيق تيران ) are the narrow sea passages, about 3 miles wide, formed by the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas which separates the Gulf of Aqaba from the Red Sea. Access to Israel's seaport of Eilat and Jordan's only seaport of Aqaba is contingent upon passage through the Gulf of Aqaba, giving the Straits of Tiran strategic importance. This proved pivotal in the Arab-Israeli conflict during the twentieth century, notably the Six-Day War in 1967. It is named after the island Tiran located at its inflow, on which the Multinational Force and Observers has an observation post. Sanafir island lies to the east of Tiran, southeast of the shallow strait between Tiran and Saudi Arabia.

International documents inconsistently refer to the Straits of Tiran and the Strait of Tiran. There are several passages formed by the islands between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The westernmost strait, between Egypt and the island of Tiran, overlooked by the Egyptian city Sharm el-Sheikh is the Strait of Tiran. It has two passages deep enough to be navigable by large ships. The Enterprise passage, 950 feet deep, is right next to the Egyptian side, while the 240-foot-deep Grafton passage, surrounded by shallows, is to the east, nearer to the island of Tiran. To the east of Tiran, between it and Saudi Arabia, the other strait has reefs and shallows with a single channel 54 feet deep.