United States Sanctions Iran’s New Hormuz Control Agency

Washington combined new sanctions with military defense operations near the Strait of Hormuz.

Published: 5/28/2026, 2:26:40 PM EDT

United States Sanctions Iran’s New Hormuz Control Agency — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on April 15, 2026. (Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times)

The United States has imposed sanctions on the so-called Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA), a newly formed Iranian body, that is part of Tehran’s effort to control and profit from transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

The Treasury Department said on May 27 that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) uses PGSA to “monetize its campaign of state-sponsored terror by extorting vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.”

The sanctions freeze any U.S.-based assets linked to PGSA and ban Americans and many foreign companies or banks from doing business with it.

Violators could face civil or criminal penalties, the department said, including secondary sanctions against foreign financial institutions that facilitate prohibited transactions.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a May 28 post on X that Washington “will not tolerate any effort to impose a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz.”

His comments came after Iran’s ambassador to France said last week that Tehran and Oman were discussing a permanent toll system for ships passing through the crucial waterway.

“Oman, in particular, should know that the U.S. Treasury will aggressively target any actors involved— directly or indirectly—in facilitating tolls for the Strait and any willing partners will be penalized,” Bessent said.

He urged all countries to reject Iran’s efforts, adding that its “days of terrorizing the region and the world are over.”

Maritime Oversight

Iran announced the creation of the PGSA earlier this month amid growing tensions with the United States over sanctions enforcement and military activity in the region.

Iran defined the PGSA zone of supervision to stretch from Kuh Mobarak in southeastern Iran to the southern coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the eastern side of the strait. It also covers the area from Qeshm Island to Umm al-Quwain in the UAE on the western side.

The declared zone appears to overlap at least partially with areas where U.S. naval forces are conducting operations linked to Washington’s blockade targeting Iranian ports.

Beginning April 13, U.S. Central Command began blocking vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports. This includes ships traveling to or from Iranian ports in both the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

The Epaminondas ship is seen during seizure by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, in this image obtained by Reuters on April 24, 2026. (Meysam Mirzadeh/Tasnim/WANA via Reuters) — The Epaminondas ship is seen during seizure by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, in this image obtained by Reuters on April 24, 2026. Meysam Mirzadeh/Tasnim/WANA via Reuters

The latest military activity near the Strait of Hormuz came on May 27, when U.S. forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones and struck a ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was preparing to launch another drone.

U.S. officials described the actions as “measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire," as the Trump administration continues negotiations with Tehran.

President Donald Trump said on May 27 that the administration was not considering immediate sanctions relief for Iran despite ongoing diplomatic talks. The president added that any future financial relief would depend on continued Iranian compliance with a potential agreement.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said over the weekend that negotiations included discussions on ending hostilities, lifting the U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, and addressing Iran’s nuclear program in later stages.

Trump also rejected suggestions that Iran could transfer its nuclear stockpile to Russia or China.

From The Epoch Times