SOURCE: Council of the EU press releases (PRIMARY - official). Site blocks curl; text below is as returned verbatim by WebFetch on 16 Sep 2026 (check against the live page before quoting).

(1) "Middle East: Council extends EU legal framework to target those involved in Iran's actions impeding lawful transit passage and freedom of navigation", 22 May 2026
URL: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/05/22/middle-east-council-extends-eu-legal-framework-to-target-those-involved-in-iran-s-actions-impeding-lawful-transit-passage-and-freedom-of-navigation/

The Council decided today to extend the scope of EU's restrictive measures originally established to address Tehran's military support for Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and various armed groups in the Middle East and the Red Sea region. The amended sanctions framework will now also target individuals and entities involved in Iran's actions and policies threatening the freedom of navigation in the Middle East.
The decision delivers on the political agreement reached by EU ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council on 21 April 2026.
Iran's actions against vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz are contrary to international law. Such actions infringe upon established rights of both transit and innocent passage through international straits.
Thanks to the amended legal framework, the EU will now be able to introduce further restrictive measures in response to Iran's actions undermining the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Such restrictive measures consist of travel restrictions that prohibit listed individual and entities from entering or transiting through EU territories, and an asset freeze. In addition, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to listed individual and entities.
Background: On 20 July 2023, the Council established a dedicated framework for sanctions in view of Iran's military support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The scope of the framework was broadened on 14 May 2024, in view of Iran's military support of armed groups in the Middle East and Red Sea region and of the drone and missile attacks Iran carried out against Israel in April 2024. In its conclusions of 19 March 2026, the European Council called for the full implementation of UNSC Resolution 2817 (2026), recalling the need to ensure maritime security and respect for the freedom of navigation and condemning any acts that threaten navigation or prevent vessels from entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz. On 9 April 2026, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement on behalf of the EU on the ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran urging all involved to fully ensure freedom of navigation as well as free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, in line with international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Legal reference: Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 of 20 July 2023 (consolidated).

(2) "Freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz: EU lists two individuals and one entity", 8 June 2026
URL: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/06/08/freedom-of-navigation-in-the-strait-of-hormuz-eu-lists-two-individuals-and-one-entity/
Listed: Hormozgan Provincial Command of the IRGC Navy (IRGCN) — controls the Strait of Hormuz and operates a toll system requiring vessels to provide identification, cargo and destination information; it "screens vessels" and "determines which ones are allowed to transit". Mohammad Akbarzadeh (Deputy Commander for Political Affairs, IRGC Navy) — "threatens to use missiles or drones against vessels transiting the strait". Hamid Hosseini (Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union) — "promotes the policy of submitting, undergoing assessment, and paying transit fees". Measures: asset freeze, prohibition on making funds available, travel ban. Regime now covers 26 natural persons and 27 entities.

(3) EU sanctions against Iran policy page (timeline as returned by WebFetch): 29 Sep 2025 "EU reimposes sanctions in view of Iran's nuclear proliferation activities" (reinstating all nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions lifted in 2016, following UNSC action); 19 Feb 2026 Council designated the IRGC under the EU counter-terrorism sanctions regime; 22 May 2026 "Strait of Hormuz: EU widens sanctions regime against Iran"; 8 Jun 2026 "Strait of Hormuz: EU adopts new sanctions against Iran"; 24 Jul 2026 new human-rights sanctions. Nuclear-related measures include "ban on imports of crude oil, natural gas and petrochemical and petroleum products" (Decision 2010/413/CFSP; Regulation (EU) 267/2012).
URL: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/sanctions-against-iran/