Legal experts are questioning the validity of President Donald Trump’s proposal to impose tolls on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, declaring the measure illegal under international law.
The comments follow Trump’s announcement on Truth Social that the United States would reinstate a blockade of Iranian ports and prevent Iranian ships from entering or exiting the strait.
According to Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet, which cited legal analysis, neither Iran nor the United States has the authority to levy tolls in the international waters of the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait serves as a vital global energy artery, with roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passing through it daily.
Any attempt to monetize or restrict transit unilaterally conflicts with established maritime conventions governing freedom of navigation.
The legal challenge arrives as tensions in the Persian Gulf have escalated sharply.