Maritime chief rejects legality of blocking Strait of Hormuz

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, said that countries have no right to blockade international straits used for international transit.

Speaking at a press briefing, Dominguez made the remarks in response to a question on whether Washington’s potential blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would violate international law, Xinhua reports.

“From a legal perspective, in accordance with international law, there is no right to prohibit the right of innocent passage, nor to impede the freedom of navigation through international straits used for international transit,” he said.

US President Donald Trump announced on April 12 that the US Navy would begin blocking ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks with Iran failed to produce a deal.

By Vafa Guliyeva