Strait of Hormuz: EU widens sanctions regime against Iran

European Union ministers decided on May 22 to extend the scope of EU’s restrictive measures originally established to address Tehran’s military support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and various armed groups in the Middle East and the Red Sea region, a statement by the Council of the EU said.

The amended sanctions framework will now also target individuals and entities involved in Iran’s actions and policies threatening the freedom of navigation in the Middle East, the statement said.

The decision delivers on the political agreement reached by EU ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council on April 21 2026, it said.

“Iran’s actions against vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz are contrary to international law,” the Council of the EU said.

“Such actions infringe upon established rights of both transit and innocent passage through international straits.”

Thanks to the amended legal framework, the EU will now be able to introduce further restrictive measures in response to Iran’s actions undermining the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the statement said.

Such restrictive measures consist of travel restrictions that prohibit listed individual and entities from entering or transiting through EU territories, and an asset freeze.

In addition, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to listed individual and entities, the statement said.