US Treasury chief threatens to sanction Oman if it joins Hormuz tolls

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday threatened to impose secondary sanctions and penalize Oman if it assists Iran in facilitating a tolling system in the Strait of Hormuz. US government partially views any such toll payments as a violation of international sanctions because the funds risk enriching the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The US Treasury has specifically warned global shipping firms and mediators including banks in the UAE and Oman against processing payments. Formerly a mediator between the US and Iran, Oman has been put under immense diplomatic and economic pressure as US attempts to block Iran's shadow banking networks.