US Imposes Sanctions on Strait of Hormuz Fees; Iran Offers Ceasefire Via Pakistan

Iran sent a counter-proposal to the United States through Pakistani mediators in response to recent US changes to past proposals on a lasting ceasefire deal, according to Barak Ravid of Axios. Iranian media also reported that Tehran sent its latest proposal to the US via Pakistani mediators.

Iranian state media stated that Tehran sent a new proposal for a lasting ceasefire to the Trump administration.

The United States warned shippers that paying tolls or other fees to Iran for passage through the Strait of Hormuz risks sanctions, according to Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters. The US warning was issued on Friday, May 1, 2026. The advisory from the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control highlighted sanctions risks for payments to Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

A US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continued for its third week as of May 1, 2026. US-Iran ceasefire talks stalled as of May 1, 2026. Both sides halted attacks since reaching a tentative agreement to pause fighting on April 7, 2026.

Iran has made two main demands since the nominal ceasefire started and negotiations began: continued enrichment and cessation of hostilities between Lebanese Hezbollah and Israel, according to Barak Ravid of Axios. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called the ongoing siege on Iran's ports intolerable.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday, May 1, 2026, that Tehran remains open to diplomacy with the US if Washington alters its expansionist approach and threatening rhetoric.

The US and Israel began launching attacks on Iran on February 28, 2026. Iran's influence over and ability to close the Strait of Hormuz emerged as a key point of leverage shortly after February 28, 2026. About one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas maritime shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

In past proposals to end the war, Iran proposed charging fees or tolls for vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Washington repeatedly rejected Iran's proposals to charge fees or tolls for Strait of Hormuz passage. Iran may offer shippers fiat currency, digital assets, offsets, informal swaps, or other in-kind payments for Strait of Hormuz passage, according to the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

Payments to Iran for Strait of Hormuz passage may be framed as charitable donations to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Bonyad Mostazafan, or Iranian embassy accounts, according to the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

The government of Iran and the International Revolutionary Guard Corps remain under US sanctions. A White House spokesperson declined to confirm receipt of Iran's new ceasefire proposal.

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the proposal does not detail private diplomatic conversations. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump has been clear that Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon and negotiations continue to ensure US national security.