Expanding European sanctions on Iran

Today, Friday, the Council of the European Union decided to expand the scope of the legal framework of European sanctions imposed on Iran, to include individuals and entities involved in policies and actions that threaten freedom of navigation and the right of legal transit in the Middle East, especially in the Strait of Hormuz.

Under the new amendments, the European Union will be able to impose more restrictive measures on persons and entities associated with measures that undermine freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. These measures include a ban on travel to or transit through European Union territory, in addition to freezing assets.

European citizens and companies are also prohibited from providing funds, financial assets, or economic resources to individuals and entities on the sanctions lists.

The Council explained, in a statement, that the European Union foreign ministers had reached a political agreement in this regard during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on April 21, 2026.

The Council affirmed that Iranian measures against ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz “contrary to international law” and represent a violation of the rights of transit and innocent passage recognized in international straits.

In March 2026, the European Council called for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution No. 2817 of 2026, stressing the need to ensure maritime security and respect for freedom of navigation, and condemning any actions that threaten the movement of ships or obstruct their entry and exit from the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement also indicated that the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy had welcomed, on April 9, 2026, the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, calling on all parties to ensure freedom of navigation and safe transit in the Strait of Hormuz in line with international law.