Iran's Strait Toll Plan Clashes with International Maritime Law

A US-Iran memorandum signed June 17 commits both sides to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. Yet Iran insists it may charge transit fees—a claim UNCLOS Article 44 forbids for international straits. Iran's June 9 position claims the entire strait lies in its waters and invokes rebus sic stantibus doctrine (changed circumstances) to justify fees. Negotiations have 60 days to resolve this. One-fifth of global oil moves through the strait.