Iran is demanding the right to collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz as a precondition for reopening the vital waterway after its war with the United States and Israel.

The strait is a key route for global oil supplies, but analysts warn that charging ships would violate the long-standing principle of freedom of navigation under international law.

The United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea, in effect since 1994, guarantees the "innocent passage" of ships through straits that do not threaten coastal states.

Experts say allowing Iran to collect tolls could set a dangerous precedent.

"Freedom of navigation has always been recognized, including specifically in straits," said Philippe Delebecque, a maritime law professor at Paris' Sorbonne University.

He added that if Iran were allowed........

© International Business Times