Continuing Crisis in Strait of Hormuz: Why Iran’s Hold is Illegal and U.S. Military Force Alone Fails

Key Points:

• Over a month into the conflict, Iran maintains de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz, demanding vessels coordinate transit with Iranian forces and imposing a $2 million transit fee, actions violating international law and threatening global shipping.
• The U.S. military faces significant challenges in reopening the Strait by force, as Iran has fortified key positions like Kharg Island and employs low-cost drones and missile threats to sustain a blockade without direct confrontation.
• Iran aims to institutionalize its control over the Strait, seeking legal authority similar to Turkey’s over the Turkish Straits, a move that contradicts the international legal regime under UNCLOS guaranteeing free transit passage.
• The blockade has triggered a severe global energy crisis, disrupting about 20% of the world’s oil supply, raising prices, and affecting fertilizer, food security, and other commodity markets, with no immediate resolution in sight.
• A sustainable solution requires a coordinated multinational effort combining naval escorts, insurance guarantees, and diplomatic engagement to restore freedom of navigation, but current U.S. isolation and reliance on military threats hinder progress.