Strait of Hormuz: Why the US and Iran are sailing in very different legal waters

Tehran and Washington look to different rules to govern their conduct in the key choke point.

By: Elizabeth Mendenhall, University of Rhode Island, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: April 15, 2026

Words: 1,337

Last Updated: 3 months, 2 weeks ago

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By Elizabeth Mendenhall, University of Rhode Island

The Strait of Hormuz exists in the eye of the beholder.

While everyone agrees that, geographically speaking, it is a strait – a narrow sea passage connecting two places that ships want to go – its political and legal status is rather more complicated.

The United States and Iran both eye the strait – a choke point through which 20% of the world’s oil passes – very …

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