Can Iran legally put a price on passage through the Strait of Hormuz?

Irans move to charge tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz has sparked a legal and geopolitical debate. Under international law, particularly UNCLOS, vessels are entitled to “transit passage” through key straits without interference, making unilateral tolls highly contentious. While Iran argues it can regulate movement within its territorial waters, most experts view such charges as inconsistent with established maritime norms.