WANA (May 09) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s recent assertion that the United States cannot accept Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz—which he characterized as an international waterway—has sparked a wave of pushback from international observers and social media commentators.

 

Critics and international activists on the platform X have challenged the Secretary’s legal interpretation, arguing that, contrary to Washington’s claims, the waters of the Strait of Hormuz do not constitute international waters in the traditional sense, but rather fall within the territorial jurisdiction of the coastal states, primarily Iran.

 

Critique of Global Inconsistencies

Many users highlighted what they described as a double standard in international maritime discourse. Commentators noted that while the U.S. frames Iranian sovereignty as a global threat, the international community should instead focus its condemnation on the “unjust naval blockade” imposed on Iran by the United States.

 

Below are some of the users’ comments regarding the legal status of the waterway:

Strait of Hormuz is Iranian Territory