The End of Free Seas: The Battle for the Strait of Hormuz

The long-standing international status quo regarding maritime freedom is under significant threat as both the United States and Iran move to impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

lthough the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) explicitly bans such interference in international waterways, neither nation has ratified the treaty, and President Trump has recently indicated a desire to bypass international law in favor of his own moral compass.

This move comes as a response to Iran’s recent establishment of its own tolls amid the ongoing regional conflict.

With approximately 20% of the world’s oil passing through this narrow corridor, the imposition of fees—combined with the administration’s plans to engage in unregulated seabed mining—could destabilize global energy markets and encourage other nations to abandon maritime treaties, potentially ending the era of free passage in international waters.