Between Iran blackmail and Trump bullying, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The West Asia region has descended into open conflict, with the United States launching strikes on Iran and Tehran targeting US allies and commercial tankers.
• Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, and the US has reinstated its blockade, leading to the collapse of the June 14 Memorandum of Understanding for a ceasefire.
• Oil prices have surged to their highest level in a month due to the escalating tensions and disruptions in the vital waterway.
• An Indian crew member was killed and another is missing after Iranian cruise missiles struck their tankers.
• US President Donald Trump's proposed 20 percent fee on cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz contradicts international law regarding free passage through international waterways.

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Detailed Insights:

• The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime choke point, with approximately 20-30% of global oil consumption and 20% of the world's liquid natural gas passing through it daily.
• The proposed US fee on transit through the Strait would significantly increase shipping costs and is viewed as a unilateral action.
• International law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), generally upholds the right of "transit passage" through international straits, meaning no country can levy tolls or fees on such waterways.
• Iran considers control over the Strait of Hormuz its most potent leverage, aiming to prevent the emergence of alternative routes that could diminish its influence.
• The ongoing conflict highlights the urgent need for a stable framework for engagement between the US and Iran to prevent regional and global instability, energy supply disruptions, and economic threats.
• Both the US and Iran have not ratified UNCLOS, but the principles of transit passage are widely considered customary international law.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Strait of Hormuz: A narrow, strategically vital waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, crucial for global oil and gas transport.
• International Waterway: A body of water where vessels of all nations have the right of free navigation, typically governed by international law like UNCLOS.
• Unilateralism: A foreign policy approach where a state acts without the support or consent of other states or international organizations.
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS): An international treaty establishing a comprehensive legal framework for all marine and maritime activities, including navigation rights through international straits.