US warns shipping companies of sanctions for paying fees to Iran to transit Strait of Hormuz
Al Jazeera Staff
The US Treasury warned maritime shipping companies that paying fees or 'donations' to Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz risks sanctions, as US-Iran ceasefire talks remain deadlocked. The warning, issued by OFAC, covers payments in any form including fiat, digital assets, barter swaps, and disguised donations.
On April 25, the United States issued a fresh warning to maritime shipping companies, stating that anyone paying fees or other charges to Iran for passage through the Strait of Hormuz risks sanctions. The warning was issued by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
According to OFAC, Iran may require shipping companies to pay in fiat currency, digital assets, barter swaps, or other informal payments. Such payments could also be disguised as charitable donations to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the Mostazafan Foundation, or accounts at Iranian embassies.
“OFAC is issuing this alert to inform U.S. and non-U.S. persons of the sanctions risk for making these payments to the Iranian regime or obtaining safe conduct assurances from it,” the document stated, emphasizing that the risk exists regardless of the payment method.
The warning comes as the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz enters its third week amid deadlocked US-Iran ceasefire talks. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called the blockade of the country’s ports “unacceptable.”
About one-fifth of globally transported crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through this strategic waterway. Iran had previously proposed charging fees for vessels wanting to transit the strait as part of proposals to end the war, but Washington repeatedly rejected the idea.
Both Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are currently on the U.S. sanctions list.
On the same day, Iranian state media reported that Tehran had sent a new proposal for a long-term ceasefire to the Trump administration. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Washington does not “disclose details of private diplomatic exchanges,” declining to confirm receipt of the proposal. Kelly added that “Trump has made clear Iran must never possess nuclear weapons, and negotiations continue to ensure America’s short- and long-term national security.”
Both sides have largely halted attacks since reaching a temporary truce on April 7. Trump has repeatedly threatened to resume attacks if negotiations collapse.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on April 25 that Tehran remains open to diplomacy with the U.S. if Washington changes its “expansionist approach” and “threatening rhetoric.”
