[dlubarov]

The notion of owning or monetizing an international waterway is fundamentally incompatible with customary international law. Iran can try it anyway if they're not worried about international law, but that was always an option for them, war or not. The timing of performing this extortion now seems to be mainly about scoring war propaganda points.

[kelipso]

Panama Canal and Suez Canal require tolls, granted not exactly the same thing.

[throw-qqqqq]

The Panama and Suez Canals charge fees because they are artificial passageways, created by the blood and sweat of thousands. Both were huge investments.

The Panama Canal had cost 400-500 million USD and 25-30k lives to construct, when it opened in 1914.

The Suez Canal cost around 100 million USD and 100-120k lives to build in 1869.

Charging for transit through man-made infrastructure is fundamentally different from charging for passage through a natural international waterway.

[jacquesm]

> fundamentally incompatible with customary international law

So is bombing countries on a whim.

If you want to take the high ground you have to make sure you don't first poison it with your own stupid mistakes. Iran can make a pretty credible play for reparations, and if the belligerents are unable or unwilling to pay up then Iran can selectively blockade the strait for their vessels and cargo. It is one of those little details that was 100% predictable going into this.

[dlubarov]

Not exactly "on a whim" after Israel has been attacked by at least a hundred thousand Iranian rockets and drones.

[jacquesm]

Yes, and before you know it we're at the Balfour declaration. But none of that matters in the context of the situation on the ground (and, crucially, in the water) today which was entirely predictable (except by Trump, Hegseth & co). You either plan for that eventuality or you don't start the war.

Note that we're talking about the US and Iran, not about Israel, though obviously they are a massive factor here it is the US that is in the hot seat, both Israel and Iran were doing what they've been doing for many years.

[dlubarov]

Why would we look back to the Balfour declaration? Israel has been attacked by tens of thousands of Iranian rockets and drones just since Oct 7.

After all their aggression, it seems absurd to paint the Iranian regime as a victim that was attacked "on a whim" and is owed reparations.

[WaxProlix]

I can't find sources for "tens of thousands of rockets just since oct 7", can you help me? I see a few thousand as parts of exchanges after the Israel-initiated "12 Days War", and then a few thousand more after the (also Israel-initiated) current conflagration. Notably, the rocket attacks stopped during peace talks that US and Israel entered after starting the wars, only to resume after those peace talks were betrayed with bombing.

[dlubarov]

Not sure what the best data source is, but one data point is that just in the month or so since Oct 7, the number of rocket/drone attacks against Israel was already around 9,500: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-fires-rocket...

[xorcist]

> except by Trump, Hegseth & co

Do not underestimate the current administration. They have other reasons for this conflict, and so does Netanyahu.

[NikhilSharma812]

US doesn't have the cards as Trump likes to say. "International Law" is the last word coming out of mouth of Americans I want to hear. US kidnapped Venezuela's leader. It is currently blockading Cuba. It blockaded Venezuela recently. Where was the so-called "International Law" back then? Losers can't be choosers. US lost the Iran war strategically. Now pay the piper. There is no second option. Welcome to the "Might Makes Right" world that US opted in for.