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United States has issued a strong warning that any ship that pays toll to Iran would feel its wrath.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, gave the warning on Friday.
It stated that fulfilling any demand for an Iranian toll in exchange for passage through the Strait of Hormuz risks exposure to US sanctions.
“Any ships that pay toll to Iran will feel our wrath. OFAC is issuing this alert to warn US and non-US persons about the sanctions risks of making these payments to, or soliciting guarantees from, the Iranian regime for safe passage. These risks exist regardless of payment method,” it said.
According to the warning, demands to pay a toll could come in a variety of ways, including fiat currency, digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or other in-kind payments, such as charitable donations to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
The OFAC also reiterated that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect.
The warning is coming as shipping traffic through the critical shipping channel remains at a virtual standstill and the indefinite ceasefire between the US and Iran drags on without a clear resolution to the war — or a full reopening of the strait — in sight.
Strait of Hormuz: Any ship that pays toll to Iran will feel our wrath – US
