Strait of Hormuz: Can Iran Legally Charge Tolls?

Описание: “To open or not open”—that’s not really the question. The real issue is what international law actually allows.

A viral post claims Iran can charge tolls because the Strait of Hormuz borders its territory. That’s not how it works.

Under UNCLOS (in force since 1994, with 168 countries), coastal states can claim up to 12 nautical miles of territorial sea. But here’s the catch: the Strait of Hormuz is only about 21 miles wide at its narrowest point. That means the entire strait falls within overlapping territorial waters of Iran and Oman.

So what happens?
Global consensus created a special rule: transit passage. Even within territorial seas, countries must allow continuous, unimpeded passage of ships—no tolls, no blanket restrictions.

Iran didn’t ratify UNCLOS, but these rules are now considered customary international law, meaning they still apply in practice.

What about “innocent passage”?
That doesn’t justify discrimination either. Passage can only be restricted based on behavior (like military threats or espionage), not nationality.

Bottom line:
Geography gives Iran proximity—but not the legal right to tax or block one of the world’s most critical waterways.

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