The European Union expands Iran sanctions to include those responsible for the closure of Hormuz

Two European Union diplomats said the bloc would expand the parameters of its sanctions on Iran to include those responsible for closing the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained largely closed for nearly two months, disrupting global energy and commodity markets.

One of the diplomats said, “There is a political agreement between the ambassadors that we will actually change the parameters of the sanctions regime imposed on Iran so that we can also include the people and entities responsible for obstructing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

A second diplomatic source said the European External Action Service would need a few weeks to prepare any new lists. The service is responsible for imposing sanctions on individuals and companies, while the European Commission is responsible for imposing restrictions on sectors.

In January, the European Union classified the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, and in March it included Iranian officials on the list due to human rights violations.