EU Imposes Sanctions on Iranians for Restricting Naval Traffic in Hormuz

The European Union imposed sanctions on two Iranian individuals and a unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for threatening maritime traffic freedom in the Strait of Hormuz. This is the first time the bloc has used its new powers to sanction Iran for restricting freedom of navigation.

The EU’s statement added the Hormozgan Provincial Command of the IRGC Navy, Deputy Commander for Political Affairs Mohammad Akbarzadeh, and a representative of Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union, Hamid Hosseini, to its sanctions list. The move came after Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz following US-Israeli strikes on Iran from February 28.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, stated that Iran’s actions are unacceptable and approved sanctions against Iranian entities involved in disrupting transit through the Strait of Hormuz. She added that this is the first application of the EU’s new freedom of navigation regime and more applications will be made when necessary.