India Balks at Iran's Proposed Hormuz Strait Toll

India has expressed serious reservations about a reported Iranian plan to charge a toll on all commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. This critical waterway is a major global shipping route for oil and gas. As a supporter of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), New Delhi is said to be uncomfortable with the potential new fee. UNCLOS is the international agreement that governs maritime rights and passage. The Strait of Hormuz is located between Iran and Oman. It is one of the world's most important strategic chokepoints for global energy supplies. Iran has not officially confirmed the toll plan. The proposal, however, has already caused concern among key trading nations like India that rely on free and open navigation through the strait.