Lots of people care, whether they realise it or not. This isn't just about oil prices. Around 20% of the world's oil consumption and roughly 20% of global LNG exports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. It is arguably the most important maritime chokepoint on the planet. Iran's objective has long been to use that position as leverage. Reports indicate the Omani side of the recognised shipping lanes has been mined, forcing vessels towards Iranian-controlled waters. If ships are effectively compelled to seek Iranian permission, pay "security fees", or face delays, the cost of moving goods rises immediately. Those costs don't stop at the fuel pump. Every container ship, tanker and LNG carrier pays more for insurance, security, fuel, crew time and freight. Those increases ripple through the global economy. That means higher prices for plastics, fertilisers, chemicals, food production, pharmaceuticals, medical gases such as helium, manufactured goods, and ultimately almost everything that has to be transported. This is also why freedom of navigation matters. The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway. Under international maritime law, it isn't supposed to become a geopolitical toll booth controlled by whichever state happens to border it. If that principle is allowed to disappear, the consequences extend far beyond the Middle East. Imagine if Singapore or Malaysia suddenly decided every ship passing through the Strait of Malacca had to pay them $2 million simply because the ships passed their coastline. Or Denmark decided to charge every vessel using the Danish Straits to enter or leave the Baltic Sea. Or Indonesia decided to impose a toll on ships transiting the Lombok or Sunda Straits. Or Spain and Morocco started charging vessels to pass through the Strait of Gibraltar. Or The UK and France charged for shipping though the English Channel. The world wouldn't tolerate it for five minutes. These are international waterways, not private toll roads. Countries bordering them don't get to monetise them simply because geography put them there. The Strait of Hormuz is no different. If nations were allowed to charge whatever they liked, or threaten to close strategic waterways whenever they wanted political leverage, global trade would become a hostage to geography. That's precisely why international maritime law protects freedom of navigation through these straits and why Iran 'needs' to be controlled and stopped - its precisely why they were prevented from leveraging their position with nuclear capability in the first place.
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