Hormuz on the Edge: Ancient Tolls Meet a Fraying World Order

Two months into the Iran crisis, the Strait of Hormuz remains perilous as Tehran blocks passage and seeks tolls, prompting a US-led maritime response and fueling warnings that the post‑WWII international order is fraying. The piece links today’s maneuvering to a centuries‑long history of transit rights—from Denmark’s Sound Dues to the Law of the Sea—arguing that open sea lanes are a core principle of international law, now tested by power politics as other chokepoints (Taiwan Strait, Malacca) consider leveraging leverage too.