Tag

#Strait of Hormuz

The narrow waterway between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes. Incidents involve military operations, naval confrontations, and blockade actions threatening global energy supplies and civilian populations.

8 incidents

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

US Resumes Large-Scale Iran Strikes, Trump Vows to Hit 'Much Harder' and Rejects Iran's Truce Offer as Senate Falls One Vote Short of Ending the War (September 2026)

September 2026 saw the US resume heavy strikes on Iran, Trump threaten to strike 'much harder,' Congress come within one Senate vote of ordering an end to unauthorized hostilities, and Trump reject an Iranian truce proposal — leaving a seven-month war with no congressional authorization and no exit.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Trump Declares Iran Ceasefire 'Over': Nightly US Strikes, Blockade Reimposed, and Troop Deaths Moved Off the War Tally (July 2026)

The June ceasefire collapsed into a renewed nightly US bombing campaign in July 2026: Trump called the truce 'over' and Iran's leaders 'scum,' the blockade was reimposed, strikes hit bridges, energy infrastructure and (per Iran) a nuclear construction site, Iranian authorities reported 50+ dead, four US soldiers were killed — and then quietly moved off the Pentagon's Iran war tally. Congress again declined to stop it.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Islamabad Memorandum Ceasefire Collapses Within Ten Days: Hormuz Strikes, US-Iran Exchange, Trump Threatens Iran 'Will No Longer Exist' (June 2026)

A 60-day ceasefire signed June 17 collapsed within eight days: Iran struck a cargo ship near Hormuz, the US launched its third round of strikes in three weeks, Iranian missiles hit US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, a Qatari civilian died in the crossfire with attribution still unconfirmed, and Trump threatened that Iran 'will no longer exist.' No new congressional authorization exists for any of it.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Trump Rejects Iran Ceasefire Proposal, Plans 'Very Major Attack,' Cancels at Last Minute (May 2026)

Trump rejected Iran's peace proposal, called the ceasefire 'on massive life support,' and had a 'very major attack' planned before Gulf allies talked him out of it hours before execution. Congress was not consulted. Vance publicly declared the US 'locked and loaded.' The episode reveals war-making conducted entirely at presidential whim, with no legal or democratic check.

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Operation Project Freedom: Unilateral Hormuz Convoy Forced Standdown After Saudi Airspace Denial (May 2026)

Trump launched a Navy operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz during a nominal ceasefire without notifying Congress. Saudi Arabia denied US airspace access, collapsing the operation; on May 7 Iran attacked three US destroyers in the strait. The 'pause for negotiations' cover story was contradicted by reporting that Saudi Arabia's airspace denial made the mission militarily impossible.

Grade 5 of 5: International Crime (Rome Statute)

U.S. Naval Blockade of Iranian Ports

The United States imposed a full naval blockade on all Iranian ports after peace talks in Islamabad collapsed, threatening to destroy any vessel approaching. The blockade — the first U.S. naval blockade since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis — is a belligerent act that, imposed in furtherance of an unlawful war, is a listed act of aggression (UNGA Res 3314, Art 3(c)). It threatens 25% of global seaborne oil and inflicts severe economic harm on Iran's civilian population; the US declared a humanitarian exemption for food and medicine, and whether that exemption operates in practice is disputed.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Trump Issues Ultimatum: 'A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight' Unless Iran Capitulates

Trump's explicit threats to destroy all civilian infrastructure in Iran — every bridge, every power plant — with the stated goal of ensuring Iran 'could literally never rebuild as a nation again' were characterised by Amnesty International as 'a threat to commit war crimes' and by HRW as threats against objects protected by IHL. Carrying them out would raise war-crime liability under Rome Statute art. 8(2)(b)(ii)/(iv). The threats themselves are prohibited by AP I art. 51(2) if their primary purpose is to terrorise civilians, but they are not a listed Rome Statute crime. The threatened nationwide demolition was not carried out on April 7.

Grade 4 of 5: Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Global Energy and Food Security Catastrophe

The Iran war triggered closure of the world's most critical energy chokepoint, causing the largest supply disruption since the 1970s. Iran closed and mined the strait. Despite a nominal ceasefire, the US and Iran exchanged fire in the strait on May 7, 2026: after Iranian attacks on three US destroyers, the US struck what CENTCOM called military sites at Qeshm and Bandar Abbas, while Iran said civilian areas were hit (unverified); a cargo vessel was hit, killing one sailor. Copernicus satellite imagery showed a large oil slick (71 sq km) near Kharg Island; its source is disputed and it has not been attributed to US strikes. Iran declared the ceasefire violated; the strait remains effectively closed.