US Warns Shipping Companies Against Paying Tolls to Iran for Strait of Hormuz Passage

WASHINGTON / TEHRAN: The United States has warned shipping companies that they will be subject to sanctions if any ships pay tolls to Iran for passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran, on the other hand, has announced tolls on ships and has been attacked several times in the past. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued an alert on Friday. The alert comes at a time when the strait is experiencing heavy blockages. The strait normally carries about 20 percent of the world's total oil and natural gas trade. The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, after which Iran banned ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also attacked several ships and later gave some ships alternative routes to pass close to its coastline, for which it also charged tolls. The OFAC described the system as an "informal, cash-for-pay" system in which, according to the OFAC, "many of the payments can be exchanged."