EU sanctions Iranians over restricting naval traffic in Hormuz

The bloc uses new powers to sanction Iran, warns of applying again “when necessary”

EU High Representative of Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas attends a press conference during an Informal meeting of EU defence ministers in Nicosia, Cyprus Jun 8, 2026. REUTERS/Yiannis Kourtoglou

The European Union said on Monday it had imposed sanctions on two Iranian individuals and a unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for threatening the freedom of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world's oil flows.

The move marked the first time the bloc has used a new powers to sanction Iran for restricting freedom of navigation.

The EU said in a written statement that it had added the Hormozgan Provincial Command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy to its sanctions list, as well as Mohammad Akbarzadeh and Hamid Hosseini.

It said Akbarzadeh is Deputy Commander for Political Affairs of the IRGC Navy and Hosseini is a representative of Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union.

Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on Feb 28.

"Iran's actions are unacceptable. In response member states have approved sanctions against Iranian entities and individuals involved in disrupting transit through the Strait of Hormuz," Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, said earlier at a news conference in Cyprus.

"This is the first time the EU has applied its new freedom of navigation regime and when necessary we will apply it again," added Kallas.