[ScottfromNJ]

“What most people may not realize is that the Strait of Hormuz is NOT international waters. It is only 21 miles wide at its narrowest point, so any ship passing through it must pass through the 12-mile territorial waters of either Iran or the United Arab Emirates.”

Any attempt by Iran to block commerce in the straits of Harmuz is a violation of international law as per UNCLOS and the 1958 Geneva Convention.

[Alberta's Child]

Iran is a signatory to the UN “Open Seas” agreement that governs passage through the Strait of Hormuz, but it was never officially ratified by their government. Interestingly, that’s the exact same situation the U.S. is in. Bill Clinton signed this agreement in the 1990s but the Senate has never ratified it.

THIS is probably the real reason why the Trump administration is keeping its distance over this stupid nonsense going on there. It would be pathetic for the U.S. to engaging in military action to enforce a UN agreement that isn’t even legally binding for American companies and individuals.