EU Imposes Sanctions on Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Naval Blockade

Jun 8, 2026

The European Union has sanctioned two Iranian individuals and an IRGC unit for restricting traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a route for 20% of the world's oil. The move, a first under the EU's new freedom of navigation regime, follows Iran's blockade initiated on February 28. Amid a parallel US naval blockade, ships are using "dark transits" to pass, while Iran negotiates bilateral passage deals and seeks to formalize control with Oman.

Commercial ship transit patterns

▪The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping route for approximately 20% of the world's oil flows.
▪Before the current conflict, up to 140 commercial vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz each day.
▪The Red Sea route, which accounts for 15% of global naval shipping, has also been disrupted by Houthi blockades, halving Suez Canal traffic in 2024.

Persian Gulf Strait Authority

▪Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, 2026.
▪Iran established the Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) to formalize its control over the waterway and vet ships for passage.
▪Iran's parliament is reviewing legislation designed to bring the Strait of Hormuz under state control.

US naval blockade operations

▪The United States is enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports with warships positioned in the Gulf of Oman.
▪Despite the US blockade, some empty Iranian tankers have entered Iranian waters to be used for offshore oil storage.
▪US Central Command reportedly helped guide about 70 commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz as of late May 2026.
▪An American operation to guide ships, named Project Freedom, was halted just days after its announcement.

Dark transit tracking evasion

▪Many commercial ships are crossing the Strait of Hormuz by turning off their tracking transponders in "dark transits."
▪Marine intelligence firm Windward observed over 80 commercial ships leaving the Persian Gulf via the strait in the five weeks before early June 2026.
▪Ships use "dark transits" to evade blockades, for security reasons, and to avoid sanctions for paying Iran a toll.

International Response to Blockade

▪This action marks the first time the EU has used its new freedom of navigation regime to sanction Iran.
▪Pakistan, India, Iraq, and Malaysia are reportedly in direct talks with Tehran to coordinate vessel transits through the strait.
▪The sanctions target the IRGC Navy's Hormozgan Provincial Command, Mohammad Akbarzadeh, and Hamid Hosseini.
▪The European Union imposed sanctions on two Iranian individuals and one unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on June 8, 2026.
▪EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz are "unacceptable."

Iran-Oman strait control negotiations

▪An Iranian envoy, Kazem Jalali, stated the strait will remain open but with new conditions determined by Iranian and Omani authorities.
▪Iran is negotiating with Oman, its only coastal partner on the Strait of Hormuz, to establish a joint administration over the waterway.