Why No One Truly "Owns" the Strait of Hormuz
June 24, 2026
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0:54China's Crucial Role | 1942: Crux of War | A Conversation with Jon Parshall
19:49Now PlayingWhy No One Truly "Owns" the Strait of Hormuz
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YouTube Description
as posted by the channelThe Strait of Hormuz is the world's most critical maritime choke point, but the question of who actually "owns" it is far from simple. In this video, we dive into the complex web of international law, territorial claims, and historical precedents that define control over these narrow waters. From the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to the specific claims of Iran and Oman, we break down why this 21-mile-wide passage remains the center of global shipping tension and what "right of transit passage" really means for the world's fleet.
Key Highlights:
⚓The Geography of Control: A look at the Traffic Separation Schemes and how the territorial waters of Iran and Oman overlap in this 21-nautical-mile-wide strait.
⚓The Portuguese "Cartage" System: A historical look at how 16th-century Portugal used a passport and toll system to control trade in the region—and why today’s actions might feel like history repeating itself.
⚓UNCLOS Explained: An analysis of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). ⚓We discuss the rights of "Transit Passage" under Articles 37, 38, and 44, which prevent coastal states from hampering international shipping.
⚓The "Outlaw Sea": Why maritime law is often described as the "Wild West" and how nations like the U.S. and Iran navigate a system they haven't fully ratified.
⚓Global Comparisons: How the Strait of Hormuz compares to other major waterways like the Suez Canal, Panama Canal, the Turkish Straits, and the English Channel.
⚓Does Iran have the legal right to close the strait? Can Oman charge for passage? Watch to find out why the freedom of the seas remains the backbone of the global economy.
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1958 Geneva Conventions on the Law of the Sea
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
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