The Council of the EU has approved new restrictive measures against two individuals and one entity under its expanded sanctions framework targeting those involved in Iranian actions and policies that threaten freedom of navigation in the Middle East.

According to the Council, which is under Cyprus Presidency, these actions violate international law and infringe upon the established rights of transit passage and innocent passage through international straits.

The EU has added the Hormozgan Provincial Command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGC Navy) to its sanctions list. European authorities state that the IRGC Navy has assumed control over the Strait of Hormuz and implemented a toll system requiring vessels to submit identifying documents, cargo details, and destination information. This information is reportedly forwarded to the Hormozgan Provincial Command, which screens vessels and determines whether they may transit the strait, in some cases only after the payment of fees.

The Council has also sanctioned Mohammad Akbarzadeh and Hamid Hosseini for supporting Iran’s actions that impede lawful transit passage and freedom of navigation.

Akbarzadeh, Deputy Commander for Political Affairs of the IRGC Navy and the organization’s spokesperson, is accused of supporting the enforcement of the toll system and of threatening the use of missiles or drones against vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The EU alleges that the IRGC Navy has undermined freedom of navigation by threatening, harassing, and attacking commercial vessels operating in the region.

Hosseini, a representative of Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union and a member of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce, is accused of promoting policies that require ships to submit information, undergo assessment, and pay transit fees to Iranian authorities in exchange for safe passage through the strategic waterway.

With these latest additions, EU restrictive measures under the amended framework now apply to a total of 26 individuals and 27 entities from various countries. Those listed are subject to asset freezes, a prohibition on receiving funds or economic resources from EU persons or entities, and, in the case of individuals, a travel ban to the European Union.

Cyprus holds the EU Council Presidency for the first half of 2026.

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)