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Comment by everdrive | Hacker News Reader

It was deeply stupid for us to start an unnecessary war with Iran, but it's not clear that we can leave any time. Iran is suggesting they will charge fees to traverse the strait, (and attack shirkers) and it's also not clear that Iran has the remaining navy to successfully clear the mines.

It was incredibly stupid to start this war, but we're now fairly well stuck.

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> Iran is suggesting they will charge fees to traverse the strait,

That's perfectly fine. Let freedom of navigation end. The United States uses its natural resources to wreak havoc on the world, why shouldn't countries gifted with Geography not push their advantage? Particularly when there is no world order and US bombs anyone it wishes whenever it wants? Why should Iran play nice when all it got in return is US aggression? Why should any State adhere to international law when the law is only applied when it's beneficial to the world powers?

Iran doesn't control the strait unilaterally. Does Oman not get a say in this?

When you do things like assassinate a head of state at home along with this daughter and grandchild, double-tap strike a school because AI told you so, and sink a navy show ship at sea without waiting to rescue survivors, you can’t then cry about international law and norms of sea navigation.

This feels completely oblique to the parent's comment.

Because, given the context of the discussion and the flow of back and forth (for/against Iran’s move on the strait), then the parent is most likely using Oman’s role as a roundabout “look how Iran isn’t respecting international law” rather than a legitimate concern for Oman.

But if you want an answer to the same question but posed with legitimate curiosity, the answer is Oman is OK with this arrangement :)

You clearly did not understand my point.

The strait of Hormuz has multiple pathways going through Iranian and Omani waters. Iran is "free" to charge a toll, assuming they are okay throwing out centuries of international law relating to freedom of the seas.

Considering vessels can just transit through Omani waters, what good would charging a fee do? Everyone would just sail on the western and southern side of the strait and traverse freely.

So for the Iranian fees to ever be collected, either Oman would need to charge similar fees (so there is no way around a fee), or Iran would have to attack vessels in Omani territory.

For the record, Oman signed the No Fees/No Tolls pledge with the rest of the EU literally two days ago.

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/pledge-maintaining-integrity...

> centuries of international law

Did they sign an agreement to adhere to this "law"? And if they did, what were the cited consequences of breaking it?

No, I got your point.

Ultimately, when international law devolves into “might is right”, expect your adversaries to apply the concept as well. Iran has always been the de facto operator of the strait (by fact of being the strongest regional power bordering the strait), and this will remain going forward. Nitpicking how and why Iran is doing this is not going to change the reality on the ground. It is better to spend energy on preventing wars of aggression of this nature from reoccurring :)

So long story short, is it legal for Iran to restrict access to the strait via Omani waters? Nope. Is there a realistic way to prevent it from doing this by force? Also no. Did Iran wake up and decide to arbitrarily take over control of the strait? Absolutely not. Would Iran be willing to revert to pre-war state if their demands are met? Perhaps. Welcome to realpolitik :)

Oh and as far as restricting access via Iranian waters, Iran is mostly adhering to IL because it hasn’t ratified UNCLOS.

> For the record, Oman signed the No Fees/No Tolls pledge with the rest of the EU literally two days ago.

Thanks for the link, but is this pledge binding in any way, or is it just a symbolic gesture? Because my impression so far has been that Oman is willing to play ball.

You are missing the point actually. We are talking about a world where might is right. That's the world US is making with our flagrant violation of international law.

WHY should the laws be applied selectively? If Iran has ballistic missile capability to enforce its toll in Omani waters then they can and should do so. Might makes right, right? If America/Israel can just decide to bomb a foreign nation, kill its leader, the leaders family, bomb school children, in comparison Iran controlling the strait and asking for tolls seems benign.

Or are you a racist who doesn't see Iranians as human beings?

Seems like they do right now

If they build mine-laying boats and their own missiles, yes.

Despite the local US politics, it's not really the US which is primarily hurt by Iran cutting off the straight. It affects Europe and Asia much more.

The market for oil is global and so is the price. Supply and demand.

For reference the number #1 affected country is the US. It just consumes so much more oil per capita then anyone else and unlike some other countries can't close it's oil import/exports due to logistical reasons.

I don't really think that's true. See:

https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/who-hurts-most-iran-...

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/16/business/energy-environme...

https://www.eenews.net/articles/iran-conflict-cuts-deep-in-p...

Then let the other aggrieved parties take it up with Iran

> The United States uses its natural resources to wreak havoc on the world, why shouldn't countries gifted with Geography not push their advantage? Particularly when there is no world order

You can push an advantage, but the whole "no world order" issue will result in severe repercussions if you start to mess with the wrong people. This is not unique to America.

> US bombs anyone it wishes whenever it wants?

Oh please.

> Why should Iran play nice when all it got in return is US aggression?

Iran playing nice? Are you serious? You know that it's possible to criticize America while not backing a government that has killed at least 40K of its own citizens _this year_. Acting like Iran and its government are somehow passive in global conflicts is insane.

> Oh please.

I mean, between bombing fishermen, Iran during negotiations (twice), kidnapping president, threatening Greenland, supporting far right worldwide, supporting Putin, supporting genocide in Gaza a lot more then any other country, supporting far right where possible ...

The fact is, Iran was not attacking Hormuz. Iran was abiding international agreeemets which USA broken. Iran is not nice country, but they had policy of strategic restraint and did not even responded to first negotiation bombing.

The biggest threat to global stability right now is USA. Because the country is violent, crazy and still have a lot of power.

Iran is far from innocent and did respond to the 2025 attacks by launching missiles so not sure why you’re claiming otherwise. Iran has been lying about nuclear ambition for decades and funding terrorist groups. Do you want another crazy country to have a nuclear weapon? Russia and DPRK already threatening everyone with nuclear

This is FUD. Israel is by far the most deranged/belligerent nation on the planet and they have nuclear weapons. Why don't you just admit that you are racist?

Jumping to verbal name calling shows you’re immature. I called out behavior across three geographies, none of which are the same race. Clear u have an agenda against Israel instead of addressing substance. Israel isn’t threatening nuclear on neighbors like Russia annd DPRK and won’t even admit they have it. Go look in a mirror when calling some1 racist

> Jumping to verbal name calling shows you’re immature. > Go look in a mirror when calling some1 racist

How ironic you call me immature for calling you racist but you do the same. Really goes to show the extent of your thinking process. One set of rules for me, another set for thee.

> Iran is far from innocent and did respond to the 2025 attacks by launching missiles so not sure why you’re claiming otherwise. Iran has been lying about nuclear ambition for decades and funding terrorist groups. Do you want another crazy country to have a nuclear weapon? Russia and DPRK already threatening everyone with nuclear

You called Iranians "crazy country" -> Iran is a signatory to NPT, ISRAEL is not. It goes to show that you are racist. YOU have an agenda against Iran. And yes I have an agenda against Israel, it's a genocidal deranged country with naziesque leadership. When Israel stops genociding Palestinians and starts treating all humans as equal, then I will become Israel's greatest supporter.

no substance just u calling people racist again lol

You call Iran crazy when our shithole government is plotting to illegally deport a congresswoman and weaponising federal law to go after his opponents.

Anyone who believes America has any moral high ground over Russia, china is absolutely deluded.

play your theory out. China is actively committing genocide of Uighurs. Russia is kidnapping Ukraine children and turning them against their parents. DPRK commits mass murder of its own. Dont be deluded stop whataboutism

> You can push an advantage, but the whole "no world order" issue will result in severe repercussions if you start to mess with the wrong people. This is not unique to America.

You don't have to tell me. America and Americans are feeling the effects of no world order in our diesel prices. For the record, I am in favor of having a world order with international law that is enforced and applied to all countries *equally*.

> Oh please.

Great argument. /s

> Iran playing nice? Are you serious? You know that it's possible to criticize America while not backing a government that has killed at least 40K of its own citizens _this year_. Acting like Iran and its government are somehow passive in global conflicts is insane.

Get off your moral high horse. I am an American, my issue is with the AMERICAN government. I am not condoning what Iran does or did to its people. What they did is their business. Does not justify what we did to them and have been doing to them for ages.

Why is Iran not allowed to have nuclear capability when Israel is allowed? Why is our president a pedophile? Why does our government protect other pedophiles? Why is corruption legal in America? Why do we pay for the genocide in Gaza? Why do we support the deranged Israeli state militarily and financially?

> Acting like Iran and its government are somehow passive in global conflicts is insane.

Our government is bought and paid for by foreign entities like AIPAC and corporations the people be damned. Do you think this gives China/Russia just cause to bomb America?

America is the most belligerent nation in the world, all you have to do is take your head out of the sand and count the number of wars America has been in in the last 50 years.

> that has killed at least 40K of its own citizens _this year_.

This number is made up propaganda, stop referencing it as a fact.

> According to Kerry, Netanyahu had presented presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden with plans to attack Iran, all of whom refused, before he received an affirmative response from current US President Donald Trump.

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892647

I recently read a book from 2015 on the stuxnet hack and a big part of the story is how every president knew how bad a military strike would go. Surreal to read now and the book gave me so much clarity on the current war.

Highly recommend if you like tech AND want some WW II forward context on Iran.

Edit: Countdown to Zero Day is the name of the book.

You forgot to mention the name of the book

Countdown to Zero Day probably! Super good book, technical without being unfriendly to casuals or inaccurate for pros.

Just to be able to gauge what you say, which one are you, casual or pro?

Yes, this is it.

We can leave at any time. The reason we can't at this point is more like what the Chinese concept, "we lose face". So we will drag this another 20 years into future, another 10T gone and China colonized Mars with Asimov-like robots near AGI and we have failing bridges and the bragging rights that our B21/B22/B3000XT devastating those Iranians 2,967 times! My guns bigger than yours, Chinamen!

I'm sure if we made a deal where we leave the Middle East entirely, and in exchange they don't charge any fees, the deal would hold

There's no obvious reason to expect that continuing on will result in some sort of resolution in the US's favor.

how convenient to some for us to be placed into such an inextricable position.

I seriously doubt anything but political calculus about midterms and the sinking polling numbers for Republicans along with kickbacks from private military contracts towards certain connected members of the inner-circle went into the decision matrix for starting this war. It was never about whether or not it made sense - Fukuyama's The End of History has long been totally irrelevant, a little cherry on top of the neoliberal promise of global peace.

That book specifically named Donald Trump as the type of figure who could channel thumotic desire into upsetting the neoliberal order back in the early 90s. The title of that book obviously was to generate attention and sales, not a literal statement.

FAFO in action. They can hope and dream for another outcome, but this is the best they’ll get.

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