EU targets Iran with new Hormuz navigation sanctions

The Council of the EU announced Friday that it has broadened the bloc’s sanctions regime targeting Iran to cover actors involved in actions that undermine lawful maritime passage, with a particular focus on the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

Legal basis and restrictions

In a formal statement, the council said the amended legal framework allows the EU to impose restrictive measures on those linked to Iranian actions “impeding lawful transit passage and freedom of navigation.” The decision follows a political agreement reached by EU foreign ministers during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on April 21. Brussels asserts that Iran’s conduct toward vessels transiting the strait is “contrary to international law” and infringes on established rights of transit and innocent passage through international straits.

Travel bans and asset freezes

Under the expanded framework, the EU can now impose travel bans and asset freezes on designated individuals and entities. Sanctioned persons will be prohibited from entering or transiting through EU member state territories. Additionally, European citizens and companies are barred from making funds or economic resources available to those listed.

Escalating maritime concerns

The original sanctions framework was established in July 2023 in response to Iran’s military support for Russia’s war against Ukraine. It was later expanded in May 2024 to address Iranian backing for armed groups in the Middle East and the Red Sea region, as well as Tehran’s drone and missile attacks on Israel in April 2024. The latest move comes amid rising international alarm over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil shipments. In March, the European Council called for full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817 and condemned “any acts that threaten navigation or prevent vessels from entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz.”