US threatens mariners with sanctions for paying Iranian Hormuz tolls
The United States has issued a warning to shipping companies that they may encounter sanctions if they make payments to Iran in order to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The US Office of Foreign Assets Control alert posted Friday intensifies the ongoing standoff between the US and Iran regarding control of the strait at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, a critical passage for approximately one-fifth of the global trade in oil and natural gas. Iran has effectively closed the strait by attacking and threatening ships following the US and Israel’s initiation of a war on February 28. It subsequently started providing certain ships with safe passage by redirecting them through routes nearer to its coastline, occasionally imposing fees. The “tollbooth” effort is at the center of the US sanctions warning, which indicated that payment demands may encompass transfers not solely in cash but also “digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or other in-kind payments,” including charitable donations and payments at Iranian embassies. The US reacted to Iran’s closure of the strait by implementing a naval blockade of Iranian ports on April 13, which halted Iranian tankers from departing and stripped Tehran of the oil revenue essential for stabilizing its struggling economy. The US Central Command has reported that 45 commercial ships have been instructed to turn around since the onset of the blockade.
Imprisoned Nobel Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi continues to be hospitalized in Zanjan, northwestern Iran, following her transfer from prison late Friday. Her foundation characterized the situation of the rights lawyer as “very high risk,” noting issues with fluctuating blood pressure and severe nausea. Medical teams in Zanjan have requested her medical records prior to any treatment. However, they have recommended that she be transferred to Tehran for treatment by her own doctors, according to the foundation. Nevertheless, “the Intelligence (Ministry) is still opposing the transfer of Narges to a hospital in Tehran for angiography,” her husband, Taghi Rahmani, stated, referring to an imaging of blood vessels. “Until the angiography is done, it is not possible to determine what her main illness currently is,” Rahmani said. Hamidreza Mohammadi, based in Oslo and brother of Mohammadi, conveyed in a voice message to the AP that the medical professionals have been unable to address her inconsistent blood pressure. Mohammadi was swiftly moved from prison late Friday. The foundation stated that her legal team is actively pursuing the matter with the General Prosecutor’s office.
US President Donald Trump has dismissed Iran’s most recent proposal aimed at concluding the conflict. “They want to make a deal, I’m not satisfied with it, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said Friday. He refrained from providing further details but conveyed his frustration with Iran’s leadership, describing it as “very disjointed”. Tehran submitted its plan to mediators in Pakistan on Thursday night, as reported. The fragile three-week ceasefire between the US and Iran seems to be maintaining its status, despite both nations exchanging allegations of breaches. Negotiations persisted via phone following Trump’s cancellation of his envoys’ trip to Pakistan last weekend, the president stated. This week, Trump proposed a new strategy for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
On Saturday, Iran announced the execution of two men found guilty of espionage on behalf of Israel. The Iranian judiciary’s news outlet, Mizanonline, has identified the individuals as Yaghoub Karimpour and Nasser Bekrzadeh. It was reported that they were hanged following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the death sentences. It is reported that Karimpour faced accusations of transmitting “sensitive information” to an officer in Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, while Bekrzadeh was alleged to have provided details regarding government and religious leaders, in addition to information concerning Natanz. The central Iranian city hosts a nuclear enrichment facility that was bombed by Israel and the US last year. In recent weeks, Iran has executed more than a dozen individuals accused of espionage and terrorist activities. According to rights groups, Iran regularly conducts closed-door trials that prevent defendants from contesting the charges brought against them.
