Iran’s ships are now passing through the Suez Canal, according to most news reports, or have already completed passage (one report). No incident involving U.S. vessels occurred. This is a tentative score one for Iran as a beneficiary of Egypt’s change in political rule. With this and the opening of Gaza, Israel takes two more blows. Egypt is entirely correct in allowing passage, insofar as international law is respected, as it is following through on the 1888 Constantinople Convention:
“Signed at Constantinople, October 29, 1888
ARTICLE I
The Suez Maritime Canal shall always be free and of commerce or of war, without distinction of flag.
Consequently, the High Contracting Parties agree not in any way to interfere with the free use of the Canal, in time of war as in time of peace.
The Canal shall never be subjected to the exercise of the right of blockade.”
7:33 am on February 22, 2011
