The European Union has imposed sanctions on Iranians Mohammad Akbarzadeh and Hamid Hosseini, as well as the Hormozgan Provincial Command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy, over the country’s “actions and policies” that threaten free and safe passage on the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Akbarzadeh is the deputy commander for political affairs of the IRGC Navy, while Mr Hosseini is the representative of Iran’s Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union.

The EU said in a statement that the IRGC Navy undermined freedom of navigation by controlling the route and mandating that vessels pay tolls and “by threatening, harassing, and attacking multiple commercial vessels in the region.”

The bloc said the navy also mandates that vessels provide shipping information, and the Hormozgan Provincial Command “screens vessels and determines which ones are allowed to transit through the strait, sometimes after paying tolls.”

The EU alleged that Mr Akbarzadeh, also the spokesperson for the IRGC Navy, threatened drone and missile attacks against vessels passing through the strait.

“In his capacity, Hosseini promotes the policy of submitting, undergoing assessment, and paying transit fees to Iranian authorities for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” the EU said.

It added, “These actions are contrary to international law and infringe upon established rights of both transit and innocent passage through international straits.”

The sanctions adopted under the EU legal framework now apply to “26 natural and legal persons and 27 entities” and encompass the freezing of the individuals’ and organisations’ assets within the EU, as well as a travel ban to member states.

“Those listed under the sanctions regime are subject to an asset freeze, and it is prohibited to provide them with funds or economic resources, either directly or indirectly. 

Additionally, a travel ban to the EU applies to all natural persons listed,” the EU added.

At a news conference in Cyprus on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described Iran’s closure of the strait and use of drones to “threaten” maritime traffic as “unacceptable.”

She noted that EU member states approved the sanctions in Brussels, adding, “This is the first time the EU has applied its new freedom of navigation sanctions regime and, where necessary, will apply it again.”

Iran closed the strait—a critical oil shipment route—again on April 18, less than 24 hours after reopening it, citing the U.S.’s continued blockade of its ports.