EU Slaps Sanctions on Iranian Entities Over "Threats to Maritime Trade"

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced today (Monday) that sanctions are being imposed on Iran and Iranian entities בעקבות what she described as "threats to maritime trade," resulting from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Kallas, "Iran poses a danger to international maritime traffic. This is the first time that sanctions over harm to freedom of navigation will be imposed on Iran. The U.S. and Iran must reach a diplomatic solution to the conflict in order to reopen the Strait of Hormuz".

Addressing Iran's renewed attacks on Israel, Kallas made clear that "the Middle East does not need further escalation. All sides must return to the negotiating table".

The European Union secretariat confirmed that the sanctions had been imposed, noting that EU member states condemned the continuing threats by Tehran's unmanned aerial vehicles against maritime routes. 

The sanctions include asset freezes and entry bans to Europe for Iranian actors. In addition, sanctions were imposed on those involved in threats to freedom of navigation and movement in the Strait of Hormuz.

The list includes the Hormuz district command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy, as well as Mohammad Akbar-Zadeh and Hamid Hosseini. Akbar-Zadeh serves as deputy commander for political affairs in the IRGC navy, while Hosseini is a representative of Iran's association of exporters of oil, gas, and petrochemical products.