Asset freezes and travel bans will target entities obstructing transit through the key strait.
The Council of the European Union today expanded the legal framework of its sanctions on Iran to cover individuals and entities involved in actions that violate the rights of transit and innocent passage through international straits.
Under the amendments, the EU will be able to impose additional restrictive measures on those linked to activities that undermine freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The measures include travel bans, restrictions on transit through EU territories, and asset freezes.
EU citizens and companies will also be prohibited from providing funds, financial assets, or economic resources to individuals and entities listed under the sanctions regime.
In a statement, the Council said EU foreign ministers reached a political agreement on the issue during the Foreign Affairs Council meeting held on 21 April 2026.
The Council stressed that Iran’s actions against vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz violate international law, stating that such measures infringe upon the established rights of transit and innocent passage through international straits.
In March 2026, the European Council called for the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026), emphasizing the importance of ensuring maritime security and safeguarding freedom of navigation. It also condemned any actions that threaten vessel traffic or obstruct ships entering or exiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The statement also noted that the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy welcomed the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran on 9 April 2026, urging all parties to uphold freedom of navigation and ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with international law.
