EU sanctions IRGC naval command over Strait of Hormuz activities

The European Union has added the deputy commander of the naval forces of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and provincial-level IRGC naval leadership to its sanctions list over “threats to freedom of navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz, the Council of the EU has stated.

According to the Council, Mohammad Akbarzadeh and Hamid Hosseini were also added to the list for supporting Iranian actions that obstruct lawful transit and freedom of navigation, Caliber.Az reports.

Akbarzadeh is the deputy commander for political affairs of the IRGC Navy and serves as its official spokesperson.

The EU said the IRGC Navy undermines freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by imposing a payment system and by threatening, harassing, and attacking commercial vessels in the region.

It added that Akbarzadeh has also threatened the use of missiles or drones against ships passing through the strait.

Hosseini is a representative of Iran’s Union of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Exporters and a member of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce. The EU said he promotes policies requiring documentation, inspection, and transit fees for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

With the latest additions, EU restrictive measures under this framework now apply to 26 individuals and entities and 27 organisations from various countries.

Individuals on the list are subject to an EU travel ban, and their assets in European banks are to be frozen. For entities, the measures also include asset freezes and a ban on any dealings with EU public and private institutions.

Earlier, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc had for the first time imposed sanctions on Iran over threats to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov