The European Union has imposed sanctions against Iranians.

The European Union has imposed sanctions on two Iranian citizens and the Hormozgan Province Command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy for actions related to restricting freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters reported this.

 

According to an EU statement, the sanctions list also includes Mohammad Akbarzadeh, Deputy for Political Affairs to the Commander of the IRGC Navy, and Hamid Hosseini, a representative of the Iranian Association of Exporters of Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Products.

 

Brussels emphasized that this is the first time the European Union has used its new sanctions mechanism to protect freedom of navigation against Iran. The decision is justified by threats to freedom of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of the world's oil is transported.

 

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that Iran's actions in the strait constitute an unacceptable situation. According to her, member states have approved sanctions against Iranian organizations and individuals involved in disrupting transit traffic.

 

"This is the first use of the European Union's freedom of navigation regime, and we will use it again if necessary," Kallas said at a press conference held in Cyprus.

 

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that Tehran considers this EU decision a "political and hypocritical step" and announced that Iran will continue its policy of maintaining sovereignty over the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.

 

On February 28, 2026, Iran took measures to close the Strait of Hormuz after strikes against the country by the United States and Israel began.