The European Union has imposed fresh sanctions on Iran, accusing Tehran of disrupting maritime traffic in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Announcing the measures on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said member states had agreed to act against individuals and entities linked to restrictions on shipping through the waterway, one of the world’s most important energy transit routes.
“The Middle East remains caught between fragile ceasefires and ongoing peace efforts,” Kallas said in a statement posted on X.
She added that Iranian drone activities and actions affecting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz were viewed by EU governments as unacceptable.
The sanctions target Iranian individuals and organizations accused of playing a role in disrupting maritime traffic. According to AFP, those blacklisted include Mohammad Akbarzadeh, spokesman for the naval arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The measures also place Hamid Hosseini, a representative of Iran’s oil exporters’ union, under an asset freeze and visa ban.
Kallas said the move marks the first use of the European Union’s newly established freedom of navigation sanctions framework, designed to respond to actions that threaten international shipping routes.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most critical waterways, carrying a significant share of global oil and gas exports. Any disruption in the channel can have immediate implications for international energy markets and global trade.
The latest sanctions come amid heightened tensions across the Middle East, where efforts to secure lasting ceasefires and broader diplomatic agreements continue to face significant challenges.
