US warns Iran’s Strait of Hormuz tolls could trigger sanctions on shipping companies
The US is warning shipping companies that they may face sanctions from Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
The warning sent on Friday by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control adds another level of pressure between the US and Iran in controlling the Strait of Hormuz.
About a fifth of the world’s trade in oil and natural gas normally passes through the Persian Gulf strait during peacetime.
Iran has successfully blocked traffic by attacking and threatening ships after the US and Israel went to war on February 28.
It later began to offer safe passage to other ships by diverting them to other routes near its coast, charging fees at other times for the service.
That “tollbooth” effort is the essence of the US sanctions warning.
Payment requirements can include transfers not only of cash but also of “digital assets, offsets, swaps, or other payments of some kind,” including charitable donations and payments to Iranian embassies, OFAC said.
“OFAC is issuing this alert to warn US citizens and non-US citizens about the risks of sanctions for making these payments, or requesting assurances from the Iranian government for their safe passage. These risks exist regardless of the payment method,” it said.
The US responded to Iran’s closure of the strait with a naval blockade on April 13, preventing any Iranian tankers from leaving and depriving Iran of the oil revenues it needs to shore up its ailing economy.
US Central Command said 45 commercial vessels have been told to turn around since the blockade began.
The warning came as President Trump quickly rejected Iran’s latest proposal to end the war between the countries.
“They want to make a deal, I’m not satisfied with it, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said Friday at the White House.
He did not elaborate on what he saw as its shortcomings, but expressed frustration with Iran’s leadership.
“Very inconsistent leadership,” Trump said. “They all want to make a deal, but they are all distracted.”
Iran’s IRNA news agency reported that Iran submitted its plan to Pakistani negotiators on Thursday night.
The three-week ceasefire between the US and Iran appears to be holding, despite both countries trading alleged violations.
The conflict is increasingly putting pressure on the world economy, raising prices and leading to shortages of fuel and other related products.
The talks continued by phone after Trump suspended his delegation’s trip to Pakistan last week, the president said.
Trump this week submitted a new plan to reopen a critical route used by America’s Gulf allies to ship their oil and gas.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has informed many of his regional counterparts about the country’s plans to end the war, according to his social media account.
He also held talks on Friday with the European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who liaises with the EU’s partners in the Gulf.
