President Trump on Wednesday said he is considering the formation of a “joint venture” with Iran to set up tolls in the Strait of Hormuz after the Trump administration and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire deal.
[…]
The president also suggested Monday that the U.S. could impose its own tolls on vessels trying to transit through the channel. Leaders in Tehran signaled last week it would install a “toll booth” system to exert a price on ships seeking safe passage through the strait.
It’s fully within the territorial waters of Iran or Oman. I’m not an international law expert but it seems that it’s a practiced convention not a legally enforceable rule.
Besides, international law is about who has the bigger stick.
The right of “innocent passage” in a country’s territorial waters is guaranteed by the UNCLOS. It’s a legally binding rule since both Iran and the USA have signed the convention.
But both have probably also violated a dozen of international conventions since the start of the war, so that’s mostly besides the point.
Anything is enforceable with enough bombs, if there is a will. Any previous US President, Democrat or Republican, would have enforced it no question.
K? Are we supposed to look up to previous US presidents as authorities on international law?
Differences in degree are still differences.
You can pick any authority you want. No reasonable person disagree on what international law says here.