The United States has announced fresh sanctions against Iran over its newly established Persian Gulf Strait Authority, accusing Tehran of attempting to extort global maritime trade through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement released by the US Treasury Department, Washington said the sanctions target the Iranian agency responsible for collecting fees from vessels passing through the vital shipping route.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the move as evidence of increasing economic pressure on Iran, stating that the country was seeking alternative revenue sources following extensive international sanctions.
“The Iranian military’s latest attempt to extort global maritime trade is proof that Economic Fury has left the regime desperate for cash,” Bessent said.
The US also warned that companies or entities paying the newly imposed transit fees could face sanctions for allegedly providing support to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
Iran recently introduced what it described as “navigational service fees” for ships operating within parts of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which nearly 20 percent of global oil and natural gas supplies transit.
The development comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Tehran despite an ongoing ceasefire observed since April 8 following months of military confrontations involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
Iranian authorities have maintained that the charges are legitimate maritime service fees and not unlawful tolls, insisting that Tehran retains the right to manage navigation within its territorial waters.
The latest sanctions further heighten concerns over global energy security and the stability of maritime trade routes in the Gulf region.
