EU sanctions Iranians over restricting naval traffic in Hormuz

The European Union said on Monday it had imposed sanctions on two Iranian individuals and a unit of the for threatening the freedom of maritime traffic in ‌the Strait ⁠of Hormuz, ⁠through which around a fifth of the world’s oil flows.

The move marked the first time the bloc has used a new powers to sanction Iran for restricting . The EU said in a written statement that it had added the Hormozgan ⁠Provincial Command ‌of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy to its sanctions list, as well as ⁠Mohammad Akbarzadeh and Hamid Hosseini.

It said Akbarzadeh is Deputy Commander for Political Affairs of the IRGC Navy and Hosseini is a representative of Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union. Iran moved to close the after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28.

“Iran’s ‌actions are unacceptable. In response member states have approved sanctions against Iranian entities and ​individuals involved in ​disrupting transit ⁠through the Strait of Hormuz,” Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, said earlier at a news conference in ​Cyprus. “This is the first time the EU has applied its new freedom of navigation regime and when necessary we will apply it again,” added Kallas.