The Islamic Republic of Iran has continued to demand that any ship passing through the narrow Strait of Hormuz must pay the Iranian government a toll.
The ISW reported that “Iran continues to try to frame the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) ‘management’ of transit through the Strait of Hormuz as the new status quo.” Tehran threatens to target any non-compliant vessels or Western military forces operating in the critical waterway.
While the common misconception is that no traffic has passed through the Strait, many ships have done so, with two-thirds of them sneaking past Iranian defenses by “going dark.”
The ships are essentially switching off their Automatic Identification System (AIS) before and after transiting the strait, protecting themselves against Iranian missiles.
But many ask, “Why doesn’t the United States Navy just escort all of the tankers through the Strait of Hormuz?” The answer to that is both simple and complicated.
The Strait Is The Conduit For 20 Percent Of the World’s Oil
The strait is a vital choke point for roughly 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas. Blocking it caused immediate spikes in global fuel prices, with certain crude grades soaring well over $100 a barrel.
Under international law, nations must permit the peaceful passage of the strait. By refusing to give it up, Iran has sought to establish state agencies that compel commercial ships to navigate designated northern vetting lanes near the Iranian coast, requiring them to pay fees and tax their cargo.
When Iran refuses to allow passage through the Strait of Hormuz, it triggers an international crisis featuring cascading global shortages, blockades, and the threat of renewed military escalation.
Iran’s Navy and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have utilized small fast-attack craft, submarines, and anti-ship missiles in attempts to close the Strait. However, the most effective method has been to lay sea mines, making the route too dangerous for commercial oil tanker traffic.
More details here...