EU Moves to Safeguard Global Shipping Route

The European Union has imposed sanctions on two Iranian nationals and a regional naval command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) over actions that Brussels says threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Around one-fifth of global oil shipments pass through the strategic waterway.

The sanctions target the IRGC Navy's regional command in Hormozgan province, as well as Mohammad Akbarzadeh and Hamid Hosseini. Akbarzadeh serves as the deputy commander of the IRGC Navy for political affairs, while Hosseini is a representative of the Iranian Union of Exporters of Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals.

The measures mark the first use of the EU's new sanctions regime aimed at protecting freedom of navigation. The move follows Iranian threats to restrict access to the Strait of Hormuz after US and Israeli strikes on Iranian territory began on 28 February.

“Iran's actions are unacceptable”, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. She added that member states had approved sanctions against individuals and entities involved in disrupting maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz and that the bloc was prepared to use the new sanctions framework again if necessary.

(reuters, bak)