The European Union has imposed sanctions against two Iranian citizens and one unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps due to actions that Brussels believes threaten the freedom of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. This was reported by Reuters, according to UNN.
Details
The sanctions list includes the Hormozgan Province Navy Command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC Navy Deputy Commander for Political Affairs Mohammed Akbarzadeh, and Hamid Hosseini, a representative of the Iranian Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union. This is the first time the EU has utilized a new sanctions mechanism aimed at protecting the freedom of navigation.
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The European Union stated that restrictions on movement through the Strait of Hormuz are unacceptable. Earlier, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas emphasized that the bloc's member states supported sanctions against individuals and organizations involved in disrupting transit through the strategically important maritime corridor.
In response, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi called the EU's decision "political and hypocritical" and stated that Tehran would continue to implement its policy regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Iran announced its closure following the start of US-Israeli strikes on the country on February 28.