Iran Says It Will Oversee Strait of Hormuz Traffic, Even in Peacetime
The New York Times • • world
Key Points:
- Iran announced plans to continue overseeing shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz post-war, aiming to facilitate safe passage without imposing restrictions, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.
- Iran and Oman are drafting a protocol to jointly oversee transit through the strait, emphasizing improved services and safety for passing ships.
- The U.S. rejects Iran's claims of control over the strait, maintaining it is an international waterway under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which Iran has not ratified.
- The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow passage critical for global shipping, lying entirely within Iranian and Omani territorial waters but legally open to unimpeded international navigation.
- Since the U.S.-Israeli military campaign began, Iran has blocked much traffic along its southern coast, allowing passage only to friendly ships with permission, causing global fuel price increases and leading to attacks on some vessels blamed on Iran.
