EU Expands Sanctions on Iran Related to Strait of Hormuz

Moscow (ANTARA) - EU foreign ministers agreed on Tuesday (21/4) to expand sanctions against Iran to prevent violations of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.

“The EU has already imposed broad sanctions against Iran, but today we also reached a political agreement to expand our sanctions regime to also target those responsible for violations of freedom of navigation,” Kallas told reporters after the ministerial meeting in Luxembourg.

The sanctions are likely to be adopted at the next Foreign Affairs Council meeting in May, she added.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the headquarters of Iran’s Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Military Command, said on Saturday (18/4) that Iran’s armed forces had restored military control over the Strait of Hormuz after the United States announced a naval blockade against the vital sea route.

On 28 February, the US and Israel launched attacks against several targets in Iran, including Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties.

On 8 April, Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire. Subsequent talks in Islamabad ended without results.

Although there has been no announcement of the resumption of hostilities, the US began a blockade of Iranian ports. Mediators are attempting to organise a new round of talks.