Iran warns to fine tankers in latest Hormuz escalation

TEHRAN: Iran said it had blacklisted 45 tankers that had broken its rules ​for crossing the Strait of Hormuz, ​and would take action against any vessels transferring loads with them, escalating its threats over the key waterway six months into the war. The named vessels could be fined, detained and have their cargoes confiscated.
The warning was issued within days ⁠of the US threatening Iran with 'the toughest sanctions in history', and Iran saying its response to ⁠any new US threats would be 'devastating'. The restricted list includes very large crude carriers, liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas tankers, and clean product vessels, among others. Some of the named ships are owned by the United Arab Emirates' ADNOC Logistics and ‌Shipping (ADNOC L&S), ADNOC's subsidiary Navig8 Tankers, and Saudi Arabia's national ​shipping carrier Bahri.
Any vessels involved ⁠in ship-to-ship transfers with the named vessels could be added to the blacklist; the Iranian X post added. The post did not ‌spell out what it meant by Iran's rules, but Tehran has in the past said ship-owners should get its clearance to transit the strait and ​said ships should pay for security and other services. The US has also imposed a naval blockade against Iran-related shipping.
The Gulf supplied about 20% of the world's daily crude oil and liquefied natural gas before the Iran conflict disrupted tanker traffic. US-coordinated efforts to shuttle tankers quietly through the Strait of Hormuz to fill supertankers waiting just outside it are helping ‌restore some of those export volumes.
US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said that ​the '7-day average of oil leaving the Strait is over 8 million barrels a day. Make no mistake, ​thanks ‌to ⁠the US Navy, oil is flowing through the Strait of Hormuz.' Ships owned by Klaveness Ship Management, Stolt Tankers and South Korea's Sinokor were also included on the blacklist. ADNOC declined to comment, while other shipping firms ​did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment. The Strait ⁠Authority has said ​cargo owners should refer to an updated list of vessels deemed non-compliant for voyages relating to the Gulf. Ships seeking the removal of their names from the non-compliant vessels' list must submit a request with relevant explanations to Iran's maritime authorities, the post said. Below is the list of vessels appearing in the non-compliance list.
The ​US Treasury Department is expected on Monday to broaden the scope of secondary sanctions it can impose on entities and countries that maintain business ties with Iran as the Trump administration seeks to increase economic pressure on Tehran, a source familiar with the plans said. The action is aimed at giving a final warning to countries to sever their business ties with Iran in an effort to force an end to the nearly six-month conflict that has bottled up the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf energy exports, said the source. — Reuters