Yes, the Straight of Hormuz is most crucial...
Heres a great map of it.
Here
And notice the it is Iran who owns all the islands in the region... the Islands that are Disputed Between the UAE and Iran, will likly be very active
in fighting, at the onset of War... The UAE and the US have very good relations...
Also, realise, while Iraq has more Ground Forces then Iran, it was for a reason, Iraq had 1 port, and minimal to no Navy... And Iran has, idk, about
1000Kms of coastline!
While the main battles in the Iraqi wars have been on land and in the Dessert, its not hard to imagine an Iranian War that happens at Sea, in the
Gulf, centered around the Striaght... WHoever controls the Striaght, wins the war...
And...
On June 29, 2008, the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Ali Mohammed Jafari, stated that if Iran were attacked by Israel or the
United States, it would seal off the Strait of Hormuz, thereby wreaking havoc in oil markets. This statement followed other more ambiguous threats
from Iran's oil minister and other government officials that a Western attack on Iran would result in oil supply turmoil.
In response, Vice Admiral Kevin Cosgriff, commander of the U.S. 5th Fleet stationed in Bahrain across the Persian Gulf from Iran, warned that such an
action by Iran would be considered an act of war, and that the U.S. would not allow Iran to effectively hold hostage nearly a third of the world's
oil supply
So heres how it could go down...
Isreali Airstrikes take out Irans Nuclear Plants
Iran Responds by sealing off the striaght of Hormuz
The US take this as an Act of War
And then we have a big war, that has the potential to get REAL nasty... this is a WWII secnerio... If Oil can't get thru the straight because there
is a war there. That will ahve a trickle down effect. Over 20% of the worlds oil goes thru that straight. Contries that DEPEND on that oil will have
to make some Decisions... (I cant find who Irans main oil trade partneres are, but i belive it is China).
So, a war with Iran will have many Fronts, in the straight, on the west with Iraq, and on the East with Afganistan to a lesser extent...
To get to the Capital, there is no easy route. Comeing from the North isnt possilbe, as far as i know, i dont think the US army can project power into
the Caspin Sea... Getting to Tehran from the West, south, or East isnt going to be easy, and which ever route is chosen, it will not be fast...