The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued an alert warning the shipping industry of sanctions risks linked to reported Iranian demands for “toll” payments to transit the Strait of Hormuz.
OFAC said it is aware of threats to commercial vessels and requests for payments in exchange for safe passage, which may be made in cash, digital assets, informal swaps, or even so-called charitable donations to Iranian-linked entities.
The agency stressed that US persons and US-controlled entities are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the Iranian government or associated organisations, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Non-US entities may also face secondary sanctions exposure if they engage in such payments, particularly if transactions involve Iran’s financial system or sanctioned institutions.
Due Diligence Urged
OFAC called on maritime stakeholders to carry out enhanced due diligence on vessels transiting the region, including verifying whether any payments or arrangements have been made with Iranian authorities.
Service providers, insurers, and financial institutions could face enforcement risks if their activities indirectly facilitate sanctionable conduct.
The alert highlights rising security and compliance concerns in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil and marine fuel flows.
