The European Union (EU) on Monday (June 8, 2026) imposed sanctions on the navy unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and two Iranian individuals. They are accused of supporting measures to restrict freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. This is the first time the European Union has used its new powers to impose sanctions against Iran for hindering freedom of maritime navigation.

The Council of the European Union has already listed the Hormozgan Provincial Command of the IRGC Navy as banned by the EU. It said it helps manage a system in which ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz are required to provide identification, cargo and destination information, which can be used to decide whether ships are allowed to pass.

Which two people were banned by the EU?

Apart from this, the European Union (EU) has also banned Mohammad Akbarzadeh, Deputy Commander and Spokesperson for Political Affairs of IRGC Navy, and Hamid Hosseini, Representative of Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters Union and member of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce.

The Middle East is stuck in phases of peace talks and fragile ceasefires.

Tehran’s drones continue to threaten maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Ministers were clear that Iran’s actions are unacceptable.
In response, EU Member States in Brussels today sanctioned… pic.twitter.com/OJcvCknTFe

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) June 8, 2026

EU foreign policy chief speaks on Iran ban

According to Reuters report, in this regard, European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kalas said in a press conference held in Cyprus, ‘Such actions of Iran will not be accepted in any form. In response, member countries have approved imposing sanctions on Iranian institutions and people that obstruct ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

He said, ‘This is the first time that the European Union has used its new Freedom of Navigation framework and we will use it further if needed.’

Also read: Destruction on the ground, gunpowder in the sky…, the picture of the Middle East changed within 24 hours from Iran to Israel.