How both Iran and Oman have economic claims to the Strait of Hormuz

Both Iran and Oman lay economic claim to the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that serves as the primary shipping route for crude oil from oil-rich nations like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to global markets. The United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) grants coastal states "sovereign rights" to explore, exploit, conserve, and manage the natural resources within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ).

However, UNCLOS also stipulates that ships of all states, irrespective of their coastal or landlocked status, are entitled to "innocent passage" through the territorial sea of another state. This means that while Iran and Oman have EEZs in the strait, foreign vessels are permitted to pass through without hindrance, except in specific circumstances outlined by UNCLOS.

Despite these legal provisions, the Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed since February, following a US-Israeli war, severely disrupting global oil trade. Iran has been waiting for "final approval" of a proposed framework agreement with Oman, which would temporarily allow both countries' routes to remain open, with Iranian officials overseeing inbound traffic and their Omani counterparts managing outbound traffic.