US threatens sanctions related to payments to Iran for Hormuz passage

(SeaPRwire) –   Some vessels have reportedly paid for safe passage through the chokepoint

The United States has warned it will impose sanctions on shipping companies that pay Iran for transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz.

The vital maritime route has been largely blocked since U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran began in late February, with only a single corridor under Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) control allowing passage under a de facto “toll booth” arrangement. Ships passing through this corridor are said to require clearance codes and must be escorted by Iranian vessels.

According to Lloyd’s List, at least two ships have already paid tolls in yuan, with charges estimated between $1 million and $2 million per vessel.

On Friday, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a public advisory outlining potential penalties for any entity involved in paying these fees.

“Maritime industry participants involved with vessels calling at Iranian ports face significant sanctions risk under multiple sanctions authorities targeting Iran’s shipping sector and ports,” OFAC stated.

The agency further noted that non-U.S. entities could be subject to civil or criminal liability if their transactions involve American-linked institutions such as insurers or financial firms.

Iran maintains it holds the “natural right” to regulate traffic through the strait. Deputy Parliament Speaker Ali Nikzad asserted that the waterway is a sovereign territory rather than “an international waterway.”

As of May, approximately 2,000 ships and 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Persian Gulf region near the Strait of Hormuz, many experiencing shortages of essential supplies.

On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a new program called Project Freedom, intended to help vessels from countries deemed “neutral and innocent bystanders” navigate through the strait.

The U.S. Central Command announced its support for the mission to “restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping.” Described by Trump as a humanitarian effort, the initiative will deploy around 15,000 personnel, guided-missile destroyers, and over 100 aircraft.