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Commander James Kraska
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Commander James Kraska

US Naval War College professor of international law; leading scholarly voice on naval law of armed conflict.

Last refreshed: 9 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

What legal framework does James Kraska say justifies — or doesn't — the tanker strikes?

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Background

Commander James Kraska (USN, ret.) is a professor of international law at the US Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and one of the most frequently cited academic authorities on the law of naval operations and the law of armed conflict at sea. He is the author of Maritime Power and the Law of the Sea (2011) and a co-author of the NWC's authoritative Blue Book series, which provides operational legal guidance for US and allied naval commanders.

In the May 2026 tanker-war context, Kraska was a primary scholarly voice on the legality of the F/A-18 smokestack strikes against M/T Sea Star III and M/T Sevda. His analysis engaged the intersection of UNCLOS Article 58 (rights in EEZs), San Remo Manual Rule 67 (neutral merchant vessel protection), and the IEEPA-based sanctions enforcement authority the US administration invoked for the strikes.

Kraska has advised US government and allied military commands on international law issues and regularly testifies before Congress on maritime security matters. His work on counterpiracy, interdiction, and visit-and-search law is particularly relevant to the 2026 Persian Gulf enforcement operations.

Common Questions
Who is James Kraska and what does he say about the Iran tanker strikes?
James Kraska is a US Naval War College professor specialising in naval law of armed conflict. He analysed the legal basis of the 8 May smokestack strikes under UNCLOS Article 58 and San Remo Manual Rule 67.Source: US Naval War College
What is Maritime Power and the Law of the Sea?
A 2011 book by James Kraska that sets out the international legal framework for maritime power projection, including interdiction, visit-and-search, and blockade operations.
Does the US have the right to stop and seize Iranian tankers?
US interdiction authority in international waters rests on IEEPA-based sanctions law, not UNCLOS. Scholars including Kraska debate whether this is sufficient under customary international law.Source: US Naval War College