Most of the crude passing through the Strait of Hormuz was headed for Asia, principally China, said an analyst. LONDON: Iran is selecting ships from friendly countries to pass through the Strait of Hormuz , a crucial trade waterway cut off by the Middle East war, data trackers indicated on Tuesday (Mar 17). Tehran's forces have closed off the waterway, through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes in peacetime, with deadly hits reported on vessels since the war began