Tehran, April 8, 2026 Under international law, ships retain the right to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, even within territorial waters, as long as their transit is innocent and continuous, according to legal experts.
Legal Framework for Navigation
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, is governed by international legal principles that ensure unimpeded passage for vessels. According to corroborated sources, coastal states like Iran and Oman cannot impose fees solely for ships traversing their territorial waters.
Nele Matz-Lück, a noted legal scholar, emphasized that such rights are enshrined in international maritime law. "The principle of innocent passage is fundamental," she stated, highlighting that coastal states may only regulate specific services, such as towing or harbor usage, not the act of passage itself.
This legal framework mirrors regulations applied to other strategic waterways, including the Suez Canal. However, unlike the Suez, where fees are levied for transit services, Hormuz remains a free passage route under international norms.
Coastal States' Rights and Limitations
While Iran and Oman exercise sovereignty over their respective territorial waters, extending up to 12 nautical miles from their coastlines, their authority is constrained by international law. Coastal states cannot unilaterally restrict or tax innocent passage through straits used for international navigation.