PANews reported on May 2 that the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control ( OFAC ) issued a warning that recent demands from Iran for "passage fees" to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, including payments in fiat currency, digital assets, offsetting transactions, in-kind payments, and donations to the Iranian Red Crescent, Bonyad Mostazafan , or Iranian embassy accounts, may violate U.S. sanctions against Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ). OFAC emphasized that U.S. individuals and U.S.-controlled foreign entities are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with the Iranian government, the IRGC , and Iranian digital asset exchanges. Non-U.S. entities involved in related payments or assisting Iranian financial institutions may also face secondary sanctions or civil and criminal liability. OFAC also recommended that shipping and maritime service agencies conduct enhanced due diligence on vessels transiting Iranian waters or calling at Iranian ports.