Tag

#economic warfare

The use of economic instruments — sanctions, blockades, asset freezes, trade restrictions — as weapons to harm a state or population. When economic warfare causes civilian suffering, it implicates the prohibition on collective punishment.

2 incidents

Updated May 9, 2026 Foreign Policy & War
War Crime / Crime Against Humanity Ongoing

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 — constitutes an act of war under international law, threatens 25% of global seaborne oil, and amounts to siege warfare against Iran's 88 million civilians.

Sources
14
Iran warnaval blockadeStrait of Hormuzact of warinternational law
Updated May 9, 2026 Foreign Policy & War
War Crime / Crime Against Humanity Ongoing

U.S. Strikes on Iran's Kharg Island Oil Export Hub

U.S. military strikes on Kharg Island — Iran's primary oil export facility handling 90% of crude exports — constitute attacks on critical civilian economic infrastructure. Combined with explicit threats to destroy the entire island, these strikes raise serious questions under the proportionality and distinction principles of international humanitarian law.

Sources
6
Iran warKharg Islandoil infrastructurecivilian infrastructureproportionality