The European Union has decided to broaden its sanctions against Iran to include individuals and groups that are obstructing the Strait of Hormuz. This vital waterway has been mostly closed for about two months, causing significant disruptions to global energy and commodity markets, according to two EU diplomats. Iran effectively shut down the strait following U.S.-Israeli military actions that began on February 28, which impacted around 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Recently, more than a dozen tankers passed through the Strait after Iran temporarily announced it was open on Friday. However, this temporary agreement faced challenges when the United States seized an Iranian cargo ship while maintaining its military blockade on Iranian ports. One diplomat mentioned, “Ambassadors reached a political agreement that we would indeed modify the criteria in Iran’s sanctions regime to include those responsible for hindering navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.” Another diplomatic source stated that the European External Action Service (EEAS) would require several weeks to prepare the new listings. The EEAS is responsible for imposing sanctions on individuals and companies, while the European Commission manages broader sector-wide restrictions. Earlier this year, in January, the EU labeled Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, and in March, it sanctioned Iranian officials for human rights abuses.
