WASHINGTON, April 17 — Tehran has sought to tighten its grip over the Strait of Hormuz by charging tolls on vessels to ensure safe passage, in conjunction with Iran’s Islamic...
A cargo ship is pictured off coast city of Fujairah, in the Strait of Hormuz in the northern Emirate on February 25, 2026. Iran has sought to tighten its grip over the Strait of Hormuz by charging tolls on vessels to ensure safe passage, in conjunction with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps .
— AFP pic! Plus, enjoy an additional FREE RM10 when you sign up using code VERSAMM10 with a min. cash-in of RM100 today. T&Cs apply.WASHINGTON, April 17 — Tehran has sought to tighten its grip over the Strait of Hormuz by charging tolls on vessels to ensure safe passage, in conjunction with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.The Strait of Hormuz is a waterway connecting the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, and located within Iran’s and Oman’s territorial waters. It is perhaps the world’s most important energy shipping lane. About 20 per cent of the world’s oil passes through it. The waterway is about 104 miles long. Its width varies, and at its narrowest point provides 2-mile channels for inbound and outbound shipping, separated by a 2-mile buffer zone. Iran effectively closed the strait following US-Israeli strikes on the country, and has demanded a right to collect tolls as a precondition to ending the war. The status of any toll collections so far could not immediately be confirmed.The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, sometimes known as UNCLOS, was adopted in 1982 and has been in force since 1994. Article 38 provides vessels a right of unimpeded “transit passage” through more than 100 straits worldwide, including the Strait of Hormuz. The treaty allows a country bordering a strait to regulate passage within its “territorial sea,” up to 12 nautical miles from its border, but shall permit “innocent passage.” Passage is innocent if it is not prejudicial to a country’s peace, good order and security. Military action, serious pollution, spying and fishing are not permitted. The concept of innocent passage was key to a 1949 International Court of Justice case concerning the Corfu Channel, along the coasts of Albania and Greece. Approximately 170 countries and the European Union have ratified UNCLOS. Iran and the United States have not. This raises the question of whether the treaty’s rules affording freedom of maritime navigation have become part of customary international law, or bind only ratifying countries. Experts say UNCLOS has become or is generally viewed as customary international law. Some non-ratifying countries may argue that they need not follow the treaty because they persistently and consistently object. Iran has argued that it has made such objections. The United States disputes Iran’s authority to charge tolls.There is no formal mechanism to enforce UNCLOS. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea in Hamburg, Germany, which the treaty established, and the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands could issue rulings but cannot enforce them.A willing state or coalition of states could try to enforce the treaty. The UN Security Council could pass a resolution opposing tolls. Companies could redirect shipments away from the Strait of Hormuz, and have begun doing so. Countries could expand sanctions targeting financial transactions believed to benefit Iran’s government, by sanctioning companies willing to pay tolls. — Reuters Bracing for impact: How some Malaysians are weathering looming price hikes as the West Asia conflict grips global energy supply
Tehran Tolls Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps UNCLOS International Tribunal International Court Of Justice
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Sanctioned tanker turns back to Hormuz, day after Gulf exitThe US Central Command said no ships passed the US blockade in the first 24 hours, adding that six vessels complied with orders to turn back to an Iranian port.
Read more »
Oil steady as Hormuz constraints offset US-Iran peace hopesASPEN Vision City is ushering in a new era of future-driven township living in Batu Kawan with the unveiling of Mezon Park Enclave show units.
Read more »
US ramps up sanctions on Iran oil network as Strait of Hormuz shutdown fuels tensionsWASHINGTON, April 16 — The United States announced yesterday it is tightening sanctions against Iran’s oil industry as Tehran keeps up its closure of the Strait of Hormuz as...
Read more »
Iran adviser threatens to sink US ships in Strait of Hormuz amid blockade tensionsTEHRAN, April 16 — The military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, yesterday warned that Iran would sink American ships in the Strait of Hormuz if the United...
Read more »
Malaysia Tackles Surge in Fake Content on Global Energy Crisis and Strait of HormuzCommunications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil announced that 299 pieces of fake content related to the global energy crisis have been removed by social media platforms, with ongoing efforts to address the remaining identified misinformation. Investigations are also underway for content concerning the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the proactive stance against the spread of false narratives.
Read more »
Oil up on doubts US-Iran talks will ease Hormuz disruptionASPEN Vision City is ushering in a new era of future-driven township living in Batu Kawan with the unveiling of Mezon Park Enclave show units.
Read more »