A blockade of Iran could revive the "law of prize ships" and change the rules of naval warfare, according to Forbes
A naval blockade against Iran could potentially bring the U.S. economic benefits and strategic advantages thanks to the rarely invoked “Prize Act,” which has not been used since World War II. At the same time, other countries could also make use of this mechanism.
This is reported by Forbes.
The “Law of Prizes” is a provision of maritime law and the law of armed conflict that governs the capture of civilian merchant ships during wartime.
It applies to neutral or enemy merchant ships, unlike military vessels, which are automatically considered war trophies upon capture.
It is important to note that this mechanism applies exclusively during armed conflict.
As Forbes notes, one example is the U.S. seizure of the Iranian vessel M/V Touska on April 19 for violating the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
After capture, such vessels may be sent to a port under the jurisdiction of a party to the conflict, where a special prize court determines the legality of the actions.
If the court finds the seizure lawful, the vessel and its cargo may be confiscated and transferred to the state.
In the U.S., such cases are heard by federal district courts, though the last such proceeding took place as far back as 1956.
In extreme cases, if a court hearing is not possible, the vessel may be destroyed after the crew’s safety has been ensured.
Analysts note that the potential revival of this mechanism signals the U.S.’s readiness to firmly defend its positions in maritime conflicts.
It should also serve as a warning to neutral vessels heading to Iranian ports about the risks of violating the blockade.
It is also noted that this tool could be applied in a potential conflict with China, which possesses the world’s largest merchant fleet and is actively developing dual-use vessels.
At the same time, experts warn of a possible “tit-for-tat” effect—Iran or other countries may begin using similar terminology regarding intercepted vessels, which would complicate the international informational and legal interpretation of conflicts.
It is also noted that the revival of the “prize ship” practice could set a precedent that would allow other states, particularly China, to employ similar mechanisms against the U.S. in the future.
On the eve of a possible resumption of direct talks between the U.S. and Iran in Pakistan, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker publicly called on President Donald Trump to continue strikes against Tehran.
Prior to this, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Iran has repeatedly violated the ceasefire since it was established between Washington and Tehran. According to Trump, there have been numerous incidents that cast doubt on Iran’s compliance with the ceasefire agreements.
