The EU hits Iran with sanctions for people blocking oil transport

European Union countries have agreed to extend sanctions against Iran to include persons responsible for blocking the Strait of Hormuz, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on Tuesday at a press conference in Luxembourg.

As she said after the meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg, the new measures are to cover activities that threaten freedom of navigation in the region.

The EU foreign policy chief also called for strengthening the EU's naval mission in the Middle East, which currently protects ships against attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

Previously, EU countries did not agree to extend the EU mission defending ships against the Houthis to the Strait of Hormuz region.

The Strait of Hormuz has remained largely closed for nearly two months, negatively impacting global energy and commodity markets. Iran restricted its movement after the US and Israel launched strikes on its territory on February 28. This route is responsible for transporting approximately one fifth of the world's supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) in peacetime.

As Reuters recalled, several tankers have passed through the strait in recent days after Tehran briefly announced its opening, but the extension of the truce was put into question after the United States seized an Iranian merchant ship on Sunday and the US continued blockade of Iranian ports.

From Brussels Łukasz Osiński (PAP)

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