The European Union has decided to expand its sanctions on Iran, targeting individuals linked to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the decision after a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg, stating that the move aims to hold accountable those responsible for disrupting one of the world’s key energy and trade routes.

Kallas also urged member states to strengthen the EU’s current naval mission in the Middle East, which is protecting commercial vessels in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. She proposed enhancing the mission’s capacity to ensure greater security across regional sea routes.

The EU considers the ongoing blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which began after renewed tensions between Iran and the United States on February 28, as a major threat to international trade. Discussions among member states continue on whether to extend the mission’s scope directly to the Hormuz area, as the EU maintains diplomatic and economic pressure to counter the global economic instability caused by the blockade.