The United States has issued a warning to shipping companies that they could face sanctions for making payments to Iran to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The alert, released by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control on Friday, intensifies the ongoing standoff between Washington and Tehran over control of the strategic waterway, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas trade typically flows.
Background of the Strait Closure
Iran effectively closed the strait by attacking and threatening vessels after the U.S. and Israel launched a military operation on February 28. In response, Iran began offering safe passage to some ships by rerouting them through waters closer to its coastline, often charging fees for this service. This so-called "tollbooth" operation is now the target of the U.S. sanctions warning, which specifies that payment demands could involve not only cash but also digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or other in-kind payments, including charitable donations and transactions at Iranian embassies.
U.S. Naval Blockade
The U.S. responded to Iran's closure by imposing a naval blockade on Iranian ports on April 13, preventing Iranian tankers from departing and cutting off Tehran's oil revenue, which is crucial for its struggling economy. The U.S. Central Command has reported that 45 commercial ships have been turned away since the blockade began.
Narges Mohammadi's Health Crisis
In related news, imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi remains hospitalized in Zanjan, northwestern Iran, after being transferred from prison late Friday. Her foundation describes her condition as "very high risk," with fluctuating blood pressure and severe nausea. Medical teams in Zanjan have requested her medical records before proceeding with treatment, though they recommend transferring her to Tehran for care by her own physicians. However, her husband, Taghi Rahmani, stated that the Intelligence Ministry opposes moving her to Tehran for angiography, a procedure to image blood vessels. He emphasized that without angiography, it is impossible to determine her primary illness. Mohammadi's brother, Hamidreza Mohammadi, added that doctors have been unable to stabilize her blood pressure. The foundation confirmed that her legal team is pursuing the matter with the General Prosecutor's office.
Trump Rejects Iranian Proposal
U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected Iran's latest proposal to end the conflict. "They want to make a deal, I'm not satisfied with it, so we'll see what happens," Trump said on Friday, without providing details. He expressed frustration with Iran's leadership, describing it as "very disjointed." Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that Tehran submitted its plan to mediators in Pakistan on Thursday night. The fragile three-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran appears to be holding, despite mutual accusations of violations. Negotiations have continued by phone after Trump called off his envoys' trip to Pakistan last weekend. Trump recently floated a new plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Executions for Espionage
On Saturday, Iran announced the hanging of two men convicted of spying for Israel. The Iranian judiciary's news outlet, Mizanonline, identified the individuals as Yaghoub Karimpour and Nasser Bekrzadeh, stating that they were executed after the Supreme Court upheld their death sentences. Karimpour was accused of transmitting "sensitive information" to an officer in Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, while Bekrzadeh was alleged to have provided details about government and religious leaders, as well as information about Natanz, a central Iranian city housing a nuclear enrichment facility that was bombed by Israel and the U.S. last year. Iran has executed over a dozen people in recent weeks on charges of espionage and terrorism. Rights groups have criticized Iran for conducting closed-door trials where defendants cannot challenge the accusations.
