Two coastal States and an international route
The Strait lies between Iran and Oman. Both exercise authority in their territorial seas, while the route performs an essential international function by connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
What transit passage means
The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea regulates transit passage through straits used for international navigation. Broadly, it protects continuous and expeditious passage while requiring compliance with safety, pollution-prevention and applicable navigation rules.
The IMO’s role
The International Maritime Organization does not politically control the Strait, but it adopts and publishes traffic-organisation measures. The IMO states that the Hormuz Traffic Separation Scheme was proposed by Iran and Oman and adopted in 1968 to reduce collisions and improve safety.
Declaring, preventing and verifying are different
A political declaration can raise risk without creating an effective closure. A reliable closure assessment requires operational signals such as a physical blockage, an inability to pass, halted traffic or unequivocal navigational warnings.
Which authority a vessel actually follows
Operational decisions draw on coastal and NAVAREA warnings, flag-State requirements, company security management, insurers, UKMTO/JMIC reporting and the master’s legal duties. An informational website cannot replace those instructions.