Iran has claimed sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, but international law does not give any single country full authority over the key shipping route.
In a statement to Press TV, an unnamed Iranian official said control over the Strait is Iran’s “natural and legal right.” The remarks came in response to reported US proposals to end the conflict.
However, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Strait of Hormuz is considered a shared international waterway. Both Iran and Oman have territorial waters extending 12 nautical miles from their coasts.
The law allows ships to pass through the Strait under “transit passage” without interference from coastal states.
Most shipping routes in the Strait pass through Oman’s waters due to better depth, although parts of the lanes briefly cross into Iranian territory at the narrowest point.
With inputs from BBC