Iran's Judiciary Claims Legal Right to Seize Oil Tankers Connected to the US for Maritime Law Violations — Day 77

Iran's judiciary announced on May 15, 2026 (Day 77) that it claims the legal right to seize oil tankers connected to the United States for alleged violations of international maritime law — a sweeping legal framework that could justify seizure of virtually any vessel with US commercial ties, US-flagged cargo, or US-affiliated insurance. The announcement provides legal cover under Iranian domestic law for the IRGC Navy's ongoing vessel seizure operations that have been documented by UKMTO since the conflict began. The Iranian judiciary's claim mirrors tactics used in the tanker wars of the 1980s and during the 2019–2021 IRGC tanker seizure campaign. The legal claim came alongside Iran's Senior VP Aref's assertion that the Strait 'belongs to Iran,' FM Araghchi's statement that the strait is 'open to all except nations at war with Iran,' and the overnight transit of 30+ Chinese-linked vessels under Iranian supervision — creating a picture of Tehran asserting maximum legal sovereignty over the waterway while selectively allowing passage on its own terms.