US advises shippers not to pay Strait of Hormuz tolls as donations

US Issues Warning on Sanctions for Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz

The United States has issued a warning to shippers, stating that any payments made to Iran for passage through the Strait of Hormuz may result in sanctions. The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) advised that US and non-US persons should be aware of the risks associated with making payments to the Iranian regime.

Iran has proposed charging fees or tolls for vessels seeking to pass through the strait, a move that Washington has rejected in the past. However, OFAC stated that Iran may offer alternative payment methods, including fiat currency, digital assets, and informal swaps.

The US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues for its third week, amid stalled ceasefire talks between the US and Iran. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has described the ongoing siege as “intolerable”.

According to reports from Iranian state media, Tehran has recently sent a new proposal for a lasting ceasefire to the Trump administration. However, a White House spokesperson declined to confirm receipt of the proposal, stating that it does not detail private diplomatic conversations.

The US has maintained its stance on Iran’s nuclear capabilities, with President Trump repeatedly expressing concerns about the country’s ability to possess a nuclear weapon. Diplomatic efforts continue, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying that Tehran remains open to diplomacy with the US if Washington alters its approach and rhetoric.

Source: Al Jazeera