Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3.
[as per provisional answerkey]Explanation
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically vital waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea (Indian Ocean). It serves as the primary maritime exit for countries located within the enclosed basin of the Persian Gulf.
- Statement 1 is Correct: Bahrain is an island nation located entirely within the Persian Gulf. To reach the Indian Ocean, any vessel departing from Bahrain must navigate eastward through the Persian Gulf and pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Syria is located in the Levant region with its coastline on the Mediterranean Sea. To reach the Indian Ocean, Syrian ships would typically transit through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, or circumnavigate Africa; they do not enter the Persian Gulf or cross the Strait of Hormuz.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Qatar is a peninsula located on the northeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, protruding into the Persian Gulf. Like Bahrain, it is geographically situated "inside" the strait, making the Strait of Hormuz the only maritime gateway to the Indian Ocean.
- Statement 4 is Incorrect: Egypt has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. It controls the Suez Canal. Ships from Egypt reach the Indian Ocean via the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz entirely.
Key Takeaway: The Strait of Hormuz is the sole maritime exit for the littoral states of the Persian Gulf (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE).