{"text":[[{"start":11.52,"text":"Iran has threatened dozens of ships with fines or confiscation in an escalation of its efforts to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz after the US said it would unleash an “economic D-Day” against Tehran."}],[{"start":23.84,"text":"The Persian Gulf Strait Authority, which was set up by Iran, said on X that 46 ships had violated “Iranian protocols” for transiting the waterway."}],[{"start":33.32,"text":"It added that the vessels, which included ships owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and Sinokor, would “face restrictions on future passages, including fines, detention or confiscation”."}],[{"start":45.12,"text":"The threats come as talks over the future of the contested waterway, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas was previously shipped, have hit a standstill."}],[{"start":55.24,"text":"In an op-ed for the FT on Monday, US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent said Washington would unveil measures targeting any countries supporting the Iranian regime in a bid to “sever every economic lifeline” that sustains it."}],[{"start":69.24,"text":"“Any remaining tie to Tehran will hasten the economic ostracism of countries and entities, whether that tie be purposefully constructed or wilfully ignored,” he wrote."}],[{"start":79.48,"text":"Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei responded by accusing the US of pursuing “economic terrorism” and warned that Tehran would retaliate."}],[{"start":89.16,"text":"Traffic through the strait has fallen in recent weeks to among the lowest levels of the conflict after a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran broke down."}],[{"start":97.08,"text":"Windward, the maritime analytics company, said that there were only about 16 transits per day in the past week, down from more than 130 before the conflict broke out in late February."}],[{"start":109.04,"text":"Shipping industry executives said that Iran’s threats on Monday would probably make operators more hesitant to pass through the strait, although one said that many were already managing “heightened risk”."}],[{"start":119.92,"text":"The majority of the vessels listed by Tehran are oil, oil-derivative and LNG tankers that have been engaged in the shuttle runs, which have been increasingly used by Gulf countries in recent weeks to transport oil through the strait to more risk-averse ships waiting on the other side."}],[{"start":135.32,"text":"Most are owned either by Adnoc or Sinokor, a South Korean shipping company that bought $5.9bn of oil tankers just before the US-Israeli conflict with Iran erupted."}],[{"start":147.12,"text":"Several of the vessels have already been hit by Iranian missiles while attempting to transit the strait. The chief engineer of the cargo ship Minoan Dignity was killed last week in an attack that brought the number of seafarers who have died during the war to 19, according to the International Maritime Organization."}],[{"start":164.72,"text":"Mohsen Rezaei, Iran’s top security official, said in a post on X on Sunday: “If the economic war continues, not a single drop of oil will be exported, neither through the Strait of Hormuz nor from anywhere in the Persian Gulf.”"}],[{"start":179.44,"text":"“Iran will regard any country’s participation in or support for America’s economic war against the Iranian people as an act of war,” he added."}],[{"start":188.62,"text":"Oil exports via Saudi Arabia through the Red Sea have also been hit due to an escalation of attacks by Yemeni Houthi rebels against Saudi tankers. Another tanker was hit on Monday outside the port of Yanbu, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations, the first to have been struck that far north in the Red Sea this year."}],[{"start":207.36,"text":"Iran warned that before chartering vessels, cargo owners should check the list of non-compliant vessels in order “to avoid potential issues”."}],[{"start":215.76,"text":"Little progress has been made to end the conflict despite a 60-day ceasefire, during which Iran said it would not charge ships for transiting the strait, ending last week."}],[{"start":225.68,"text":"Iran’s state media reported that Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s powerful military chief who has sought to mediate a deal over the war, travelled to Tehran on Monday."}],[{"start":235.84,"text":"Martin Kelly, head of advisory at the consultancy EOS Risk, said that Iran’s threats on Monday marked the “first real implementation of a target profile in the Strait of Hormuz”."}],[{"start":246.96,"text":"“From Iran’s perspective, Hormuz is closed to all ships without Iranian permission,” he said. “But now, we have a very specific vessel list, some of which have already been attacked.”"}],[{"start":257.38,"text":"Adnoc declined to comment. Sinokor could not be reached for comment."}],[{"start":259.52,"text":"Iran’s foreign ministry said an Omani delegation would visit Iran this week to discuss “the security of the Strait of Hormuz and maritime transit routes”."}],[{"start":269.04,"text":"Faced with the US naval blockade on its ships, Iran has also halted a significant amount of its oil production and stopped trying to export crude. On Monday, however, analysts at consultancy Energy Aspects spotted an oil tanker loading at Iran’s main export terminal Kharg Island, the first to load for just under two weeks."}],[{"start":295.64,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1787571089_9631.mp3"}