The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is entering a new phase, with Iran and the European Union now locked in a legal and diplomatic dispute. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that key maritime routes must remain open under international law, cautioning against any attempt to restrict or monetise transit through Hormuz. Iran has strongly rejected that position. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei accused Europe of selectively applying international law, arguing that Western powers ignore violations when it suits them while invoking legal principles against Tehran. At the core of the disagreement is how each side interprets maritime rights. The EU views Hormuz as a global chokepoint governed by free navigation norms. Iran, however, insists that security considerations allow it to regulate access, especially amid ongoing military tensions.