Trump has made a statement regarding the Strait of Hormuz: the US may declare it its own territory
The US President has announced plans to change the status of a strategic waterway through which, prior to the war, approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil exports passed. Iran rejects Washington’s claims of control over the strait, whilst shipping through it remains severely restricted.
US President Donald Trump has stated his intention to declare the Strait of Hormuz part of the United States once the war with Iran is over. However, Washington does not have territorial sovereignty over the strait, and its legal status is determined by international maritime law and the rights of coastal states, according to Reuters.
Trump made this statement on 14 August during a speech on Long Island, urging Americans to be prepared for a slight rise in petrol prices due to the ongoing war with Iran.
Reuters notes that the president said that, following the defeat of Iran, he intends to declare the Strait of Hormuz US territory “fairly soon”.
However, Trump did not explain on what grounds the US would be able to claim territorial rights over the strategic waterway, but stated that the United States already effectively controls the strait and is enforcing a blockade there.
What is the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and, further on, with the Arabian Sea. Its northern coast belongs to Iran, whilst the southern part is part of Oman.
It is one of the most important maritime routes for the global energy sector. Before the start of the current war, approximately one in five barrels of oil exported worldwide passed through the Strait of Hormuz.
International maritime law does not, however, provide for a third state to simply declare such a strait to be its territory. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea stipulates that sovereignty over territorial waters belongs to coastal states, whilst a special regime for the passage of vessels applies in the case of international straits.
UN documents also recognise Iran’s legislation, under which its sovereignty extends to the territorial waters off its coast, including the area of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran and Oman also have agreements on the delimitation of maritime zones.
Trump has previously claimed control over the strait
The US president’s latest statement marks yet another episode in the standoff over the Strait of Hormuz. As Reuters notes, over recent months Trump has repeatedly spoken of US control over the Strait and linked its operation to American military action against Iran. The President has now gone a step further, declaring his intention to change its status once the war is over.
However, Reuters notes that it is unclear whether Trump’s statement should be interpreted as an announcement of an actual change in official US policy or as a political statement.
Tehran, for its part, does not recognise Washington’s claims to control over the Strait of Hormuz and insists on its own conditions for its opening.
Against the backdrop of military tensions, tanker traffic through the strait has virtually ground to a halt. This is putting further pressure on the global energy market and creating additional risks for countries dependent on oil and gas supplies from the region. Reuters links the current situation to the ongoing US and Israeli war against Iran and the resulting restrictions on shipping.