Singapore refuses to negotiate with Iran for Strait of Hormuz passage to protect maritime law

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan asserts that transit through the Strait of Hormuz is a right, not a privilege, and refuses to pay tolls or seek licenses.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 5:57 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from CNA

A Categorical Stance on the "Constitution of the Oceans"

In a definitive address to Parliament, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan stated that Singapore will strictly adhere to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Responding to inquiries about whether the government would engage Tehran to secure safe passage for Singapore-flagged vessels, Dr. Balakrishnan emphasized that freedom of navigation is a right codified in international law. He characterized UNCLOS as the "constitution of the oceans," arguing that seeking a license or paying a toll to a bordering state would create a dangerous precedent that undermines global maritime stability.

The Strategic Link Between Global Chokepoints

Singapore’s refusal to negotiate is driven by its own geographic vulnerability. Dr. Balakrishnan pointed out that the Straits of Malacca and Singapore are even more significant chokepoints than the Strait of Hormuz, handling higher volumes of both maritime oil and global container trade. He noted that the narrowest point in the Strait of Singapore is less than two nautical miles wide, compared to 21 nautical miles in the Strait of Hormuz. By taking a "legal and strict" position on Iran’s actions, Singapore is defending the principles that prevent other states from claiming the right to grant or deny passage through its own vital waterways.

Rejecting Selective Access and Geopolitical Bargaining

Since the onset of the war in late February 2026, Iran has reportedly allowed ships from a selective list of nations—including China, India, Japan, and Malaysia—to transit the strait while slowing other traffic to a trickle. Dr. Balakrishnan made it clear that Singapore would not join this list of "supplicants." He revealed that while he has engaged with Iran’s foreign minister in the past and expects to do so again, he will not discuss toll rates or safe passage agreements. To do so, he argued, would be to "implicitly erode" the legal principles upon which Singapore’s sovereignty and economy depend.