The U.S. government has announced a policy barring any form of agreement with Iran regarding passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The move is seen as an attempt to block Iran's efforts to expand its influence by effectively imposing tolls on vessels transiting the strait.
According to Bloomberg on Saturday (local time), the U.S. Treasury said in a statement that "U.S. persons must not use any services provided by the Iranian government, including safe-passage services, regardless of whether tolls are paid." The directive prohibits not only payments to Iran for passage through the Strait of Hormuz but also any consultation with the Iranian government to obtain safety guarantees or transit permits. The move is interpreted as a reaffirmation of Washington's position that it will not recognize Iran's authority or control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran had effectively blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a key conduit for global crude oil shipments, after war broke out following attacks by the United States and Israel. Iran subsequently established the Persian Gulf and Strait Authority (PGSA) under the pretext of managing transit through the strait. The agency has reportedly been pushing to impose tolls of up to $2 million during the vessel approval process. It has also been granting limited passage to vessels from friendly or amicable countries through separate consultations.
Bloomberg reported that approximately 25% of non-Iranian large oil tankers that had been inside the Persian Gulf when the war broke out have recently succeeded in passing through the Strait of Hormuz after negotiations with Iran.
The U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on the same day added Iran's Persian Gulf and Strait Authority (PGSA), along with all individuals and entities cooperating with the agency, to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list.
