Senator Cotton urges sanctions on Iran’s Strait of Hormuz authority

US Senator Tom Cotton has called on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to impose sanctions on entities involved in Iran’s toll system for transit through the Strait of Hormuz, including the IRGC-linked “Persian Gulf Strait Authority” (PGSA).

According to a statement cited by Caliber.Az from Cotton’s post on the social media platform X, the senator urged action not only against the authority itself but also against any foreign companies that pay or facilitate payments of such transit fees.

The Persian Gulf Strait Authority is Iran’s latest attempt to illegally control the Strait of Hormuz.

I’m encouraging @SecScottBessent to sanction this criminal entity. https://t.co/J4BiYEaKUh

— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) May 22, 2026

“The PGSA cannot operate without the consent of other nations, and the United States must ensure every actor enabling the terrorist Iranian regime is held accountable. I stand ready to work with you and am preparing legislation to further codify your efforts. In the meantime, I support the use of existing authorities to impose sanctions on the PGSA, its officers, and any foreign entity that pays, processes, or facilitates tolls to Iran for passage through the Strait of Hormuz," the post reads.

Cotton’s appeal comes shortly after Iran officially announced, on May 18, the launch of the PGSA, a body responsible for managing toll payments for vessels transiting the strategic waterway.

By Tamilla Hasanova