Is the Strait of Hormuz international waters?

The northern side of the shipping lanes falls within Iran's territorial sea and the southern side within Oman's, off the Musandam peninsula. Neither country has the right to stop lawful transit, but both can set rules on navigation safety and pollution.

The southern corridor near Oman has become a political flashpoint in 2026, because Iran and the United States disagree over which route ships should use.

The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea gives ships and aircraft a right of transit passage through international straits, meaning continuous and expeditious transit that a coastal state may not suspend. Oman has ratified the convention. Iran has signed but not ratified it and argues that only the narrower right of innocent passage applies to ships of states that are not party to it.

That gap matters commercially. Under innocent passage a coastal state can claim wider powers to regulate passage, and Iran has used that reading to demand that ships use its designated route and coordinate with its armed forces.

Since the war began on Feb 28, 2026, transits have collapsed. Iran treats a southern corridor near Oman as unauthorized, while the United States coordinates transits through that corridor and says the main routes are clear of mines. Iran's strait authority warned it would take legal action against all Sinokor vessels from Nov 1.

For a charterer or cargo owner the practical point is simple: legal rights do not stop mines, seizures or strikes. Routing, insurance cover and crew consent decide whether a voyage happens.