Who Controls Strait Of Hormuz? Competing Claims By Iran And US, Pg2

Key Highlights:

• Hossein Taeb, head of Iran's Basij paramilitary unit, asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is under Iran's control and management.
• This statement directly contradicted former US President Donald Trump's claim of total US control over the strategic waterway.
• The article refers to a conflict that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, leading Iran to effectively shut the strait.
• An interim agreement in June, aiming for a ceasefire and return to freedom of navigation, subsequently unravelled.

Detailed Insights:

• The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial maritime chokepoint, vital for global energy security as a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes through it.
• Iran's temporary closure of the strait demonstrated its strategic capability to disrupt international shipping and global energy markets.
• The US responded to Iran's actions by imposing a naval blockade and emphasizing the protection of freedom of navigation for non-Iranian vessels.
• The principle of freedom of navigation is a fundamental aspect of international maritime law, ensuring unimpeded passage through international waters.
• The failure of the interim agreement highlighted the deep-seated geopolitical tensions and conflicting claims over maritime control in the region.
• The Basij paramilitary unit is a volunteer force operating under the command of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), involved in both internal security and military functions.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Strait of Hormuz: A narrow, strategically vital waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
• Basij paramilitary unit: A large, volunteer-based paramilitary organization in Iran, subordinate to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
• Freedom of Navigation: A principle in international law allowing ships to travel freely through international waters without interference.
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): An international treaty that sets out a comprehensive legal framework for all ocean and sea uses.