Straits of Tiran

The Straits of Tiran are the narrow sea passages between the Sinai and Arabian peninsulas which separate the Gulf of Aqaba from the Red Sea proper. The distance between the two peninsulas is about 13km. The Strait of Tiran is named after Tiran Island located at its entrance 5or from the Sinai, on which the Multinational Force and Observers has an observation post (see Sinai peacekeeping zones) to monitor the compliance of Egypt in maintaining freedom of navigation of the straits as provided under the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty.Sanafir Island lies to the east of Tiran, southeast of the shallow strait between Tiran and Saudi Arabia.BackgroundInternational documents inconsistently refer to both the "Straits of Tiran" and the "Strait of Tiran". There are several passages formed by the islands between Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The westernmost strait, between Egypt and the island of Tiran, overlooked by the Egyptian city Sharm el-Sheikh is the "Strait of Tiran", 5or wide. It has two passages deep enough to be navigable by large ships. The Enterprise passage, 290m deep, is adjacent to the Egyptian side, while the 73m deep Grafton passage, surrounded by shallows, is to the east, nearer to the island of Tiran. To the east of Tiran, between it and Saudi Arabia, the other strait has reefs and shallows with a single channel 16m deep.