'Game on’: How Iran can exact a toll in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran could potentially monetize its control over the Strait of Hormuz by framing charges as a 'fee for service' rather than an illegal toll. This hypothetical scenario, explored in the context of potential peace talks with the US, would involve Iran providing services like escorts for vessels transiting the strategic waterway. Legal experts suggest there are precedents for such fees in other international straits, such as those managed by Turkey and Australia, although the political circumstances differ significantly. The legality is complex, particularly since neither Iran nor the US has ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and a peace deal would remove Iran's wartime justification for restricting passage.