European Union member states have jointly agreed to expand sanctions against Iran in retaliation for Tehran's enforcement of restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
On 21 Apr 2026 GMT+7, foreign ministers from the EU member countries reached an agreement to extend sanctions on Iran in response to the Iranian government's renewed enforcement of navigation restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz.
“The European Union already has comprehensive sanctions against Iran, but today we have reached a political consensus to broaden the scope of these sanctions to specifically target those responsible for violating freedom of navigation,” said Gaya Gallas, the EU's foreign policy chief.
Gallas stated that at the meeting in Luxembourg, the ministers emphasized that freedom of navigation is non-negotiable. “The daily changes in stance about whether to open or close the Strait of Hormuz are reckless actions. Passage through the strait must continue without any costs,” she added.
Since the outbreak of the conflict, Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has significantly reduced and intermittently halted traffic through this vital waterway. This has occurred despite ceasefire measures between Iran and the United States, as vessels remain uncertain about the security situation.
Last month, Iranian officials said they would continue to charge fees to guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Lloyd’s List Intelligence (LLI), a maritime intelligence analysis company, released a report on 23 Mar stating that at least two vessels had paid substantial sums to secure passage through the strait.
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Source:CNN