Iran vows to bar vessels using frozen assets from Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Khatam al‑Anbiya Central Headquarters, represented by Brig. Gen. Ebrahim Zolfagari, warned on 28 July 2026 that any country or company that accepts compensation from Iran’s frozen assets will be prohibited from transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The statement was a response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States would use Iranian frozen funds under its control to pay for damage to ships in the Gulf and Hormuz. Trump did not disclose the amount of assets or the firms that would qualify.
Iran described the U.S. plan as illegal and blamed American military actions for creating insecurity, citing the use of an “illegal and unsafe” southern shipping route. The dispute comes as cargo‑ship movements in Hormuz fell to their lowest level since 7 May, according to vessel‑tracking firm Kpler. Oman has put forward a regional voluntary‑contribution mechanism to jointly manage Hormuz navigation, a proposal mentioned in the Iranian warning. Indirect talks between Tehran and Washington continue amid the escalating diplomatic tension.
Entities: Donald Trump · Ebrahim Zolfagari · Islamic Republic of Iran · Islamic Republic of Iran · Khatam al‑Anbiya Central Headquarters · Oman · Strait of Hormuz · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The United States considered using frozen Iranian assets to compensate damage to ships harmed by Iran in the Gulf. (Reuters reporting on U.S. negotiations)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Strait of Hormuz carries approximately 20 % of global oil and liquefied natural gas exports. (Article background information)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Cargo‑ship movements in the Strait of Hormuz fell to their lowest level since May 7, according to vessel‑tracking firm Kpler (Kpler)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Iranian military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfagari said any state or company that receives frozen Iranian assets as compensation will be barred from transiting the Strait of Hormuz. (Reuters statements quoted in articles)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to target Iran’s Bikex Mountain site and other civilian infrastructure if a settlement on frozen assets is not reached. (Trump statements reported by Reuters)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Oman proposed a regional voluntary‑contribution mechanism to jointly manage the Strait of Hormuz (Oman)
- [● 8 SOURCES] The warning about barring vessels was issued on July 28, 2026 (Iran)
- [● 8 SOURCES] U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Iranian frozen funds under U.S. control would be used to compensate damages to ships in the Strait of Hormuz (Donald Trump)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al‑Anbiya Central Headquarters is Brig. Gen. Ebrahim Zolfaghari (Iranian military)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Iran’s Khatam al‑Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that any vessel belonging to a country or company that accepts compensation from Iran’s frozen assets will be barred from transiting the Strait of H (Iran’s main military command)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The United States did not specify how much money is under its control or which companies would qualify for compensation (United States)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Billions of dollars in Iranian assets remain frozen under U.S. sanctions (general reports)