Preprint Energy Geopolitics
The great powers signed a tacit pact of non-intervention in the war, all of them afraid of a spreading of hostilities and envisaging all their efforts for an immediate cease-fire. But neighbouring countries, directly or indirectly, are taking action.
Syria, a traditional political adversary in Iraq, helps Iran, as well as Libya and Israel, which never has great sympathy for Iran. As we can see, the situation is very confusing, and the consequences of this crisis cannot be predicted.
At the moment, for the United States as well as for the Western Europe as Japan, the important thing is that the conflict does not spread and that the flow of oil from the other Persian Gulf countries passing through the Strait of Hormuz remains unchanged.
If the Suez Canal were to be used to transport larger amounts of crude oil, oil tankers would not necessarily avoid the Hormuz Strait. The Canal nowadays does not seem to be a desirable route - freights are cheap, and the Canal is not for large ships.