NICOSIA, Cyprus — The European Union said on Monday it had imposed sanctions on two Iranian individuals and a unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for threatening the freedom of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world’s oil flows.

The move marked the first time the bloc has used new powers to sanction Iran for restricting freedom of navigation.

The EU said in a written statement that it had added the Hormozgan Provincial Command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy to its sanctions list, as well as Mohammad Akbarzadeh and Hamid Hosseini.

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

Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28. The Iran war and the closure of Hormuz have sent ripples across the global economy, sending energy prices soaring.

“Iran’s actions are unacceptable. In response, member states have approved sanctions against Iranian entities and individuals involved in disrupting transit........

© The Times of Israel