The Trump administration is reviving prize law, an ancient medieval maritime legal framework allowing military forces to seize enemy vessels, to more easily capture Iranian oil tankers. This legal approach, rooted in the U.S. Constitution’s Captures Clause and the Prize Act of 1812, differs from civil seizure laws by not requiring warrants or statutory violations. Its last invocation was during the Spanish-American War in 1898, and legal experts note the complete absence of specialized prize law attorneys within the DOJ. Complications remain, including the lack of a congressional war declaration against Iran and potential litigation over the legality of the naval blockade and notification rights for neutral vessels.
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