Chicago – May 02, 2026
The United States has warned global shipping companies that they could face sanctions if they pay Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, escalating pressure in a vital energy chokepoint that handles about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments in peacetime.
The warning, issued by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, says the sanctions risk applies to both U.S. and non-U.S. persons and covers payments made in cash, digital assets, in-kind transfers, or other indirect forms.english.aawsat+3
Washington says it considers such toll demands from Iran to be generally prohibited and part of a broader effort to finance and control maritime traffic in the strait. The advisory comes amid rising U.S.-Iran tensions over the waterway, with reports that Tehran has floated fees for vessels seeking safe passage and that U.S. authorities have responded with tighter pressure on Iranian shipping and port activity.yahoo+3
The move signals that shipping operators face heightened legal and financial exposure if they attempt to secure transit through Iran’s disputed maritime corridor.thehill+1
