Which country threatened to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz if it was prevented from selling its oil and petroleum to other countries?

Introduction / Context:
This question tests knowledge of international relations and strategic geography. The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. A large share of the world transport of crude oil passes through this strait, which makes it strategically very sensitive. At various times, tensions in West Asia have led to threats from regional powers to block this chokepoint in response to sanctions or pressure on their oil exports. The question asks which country issued such a threat in the context of being prevented from selling its oil and petroleum to other nations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The strategic location involved is the Strait of Hormuz.
• The reason for the threat is the possibility of being prevented from selling oil and petroleum products.
• The options are Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iran, all major regional countries near the strait.
• We assume the question refers to widely reported statements in international news.

Concept / Approach:
The Strait of Hormuz lies between Iran to the north and Oman and the United Arab Emirates to the south. Iran has often used the possibility of closing or blocking this strait as a strategic bargaining tool in response to sanctions that target its oil exports. Other countries listed in the options rely on the strait for export routes but have not typically threatened to block it. So the approach is to connect earlier news reports about such threats with the only country whose territory directly borders the northern side of the strait and whose oil trade has been under heavy sanctions, namely Iran.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Visualise the map of the Persian Gulf region and locate the Strait of Hormuz.Step 2: Recall that Iran lies on the northern side of the strait and is a major oil exporter whose economy depends heavily on petroleum sales.Step 3: Remember that Iran has periodically faced sanctions aimed at its oil exports and has responded with statements about possibly blocking the Strait of Hormuz.Step 4: Examine the options and note that while Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are oil producers, they have not been prominently associated with threats to block the strait.Step 5: Choose Iran as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, one can recall news coverage in which Iranian officials mentioned that if their oil exports were brought to zero by sanctions, no oil would be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. This formulation was widely quoted in global media. These statements align with the scenario described in the question. By contrast, the other countries in the options have usually emphasised keeping the route open to safeguard global energy supplies, not closing it.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Iraq is an important oil producing country but has not made the specific threat described here in such a notable and repeated way. Kuwait is a smaller but significant exporter that depends on open sea lanes and thus has no interest in closing the strait. Saudi Arabia, while a major oil power, has generally supported freedom of navigation through Hormuz and has alternative routes through the Red Sea. None of these nations match the pattern of threats related to sanctions that is associated with Iran.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may be tempted to pick Saudi Arabia because it is well known as a leading oil producer. Others may confuse the roles of different Gulf countries and not remember which one directly borders the strait and faces heavy sanctions. Carefully linking the political context of sanctions with the geography of the Strait of Hormuz and recalling that Iran has repeatedly issued such warnings helps to avoid these mistakes.

Final Answer:
The country that threatened to block the Strait of Hormuz if it was prevented from selling its oil is Iran.