Oman's plan to end Strait of Hormuz impasse faces stiff opposition
The plan centers on a key section of international maritime law, whose application is opposed by both Iran and the West.
Oman is striving to resolve the Strait of Hormuz dispute by referencing a specific provision in international maritime law. Article 26 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows nations to impose fees for certain services rendered through their maritime passages. Oman has attempted to leverage this clause to negotiate a resolution for reopening the strategically vital strait.
The idea has been supported by JPMorgan analysts, noting analogous examples in the Danish, Swedish, and Turkish straits. However, Iran, who does not recognize UNCLOS, contends that such a system falls short of its expectations and should grant Iran greater control as it deems the strait as its territory. Concurrently, the United States and European nations share Oman's apprehensions, fearing that a fee-based system would contravene the principle of freedom of navigation at sea.
Consequently, Oman finds itself in a precarious situation, attempting to utilize international law to remedy the crisis, but encountering resistance from both Iran and the West.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
