EU Expands Iran Sanctions over Strait of Hormuz

JAKARTA - The European Union foreign ministers agreed to expand sanctions against Iran to prevent violations of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

"The European Union has imposed broad sanctions on Iran, but today also reached a political agreement to expand our sanctions regime to also target those responsible for violations of freedom of navigation," EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas told reporters after a ministerial-level meeting in Luxembourg. reported by ANTARA from Sputnik/RIA Novosti, Wednesday, April 22.

The sanctions are likely to be adopted at the next Foreign Affairs Council meeting in May, he added.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for the headquarters of Iran's military command center, Khatam Al-Anbiya, said on Saturday (18/4), the Iranian armed forces had regained military control over the Strait of Hormuz after the United States announced a naval blockade of the important sea route.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched an attack on a number of targets in Iran, including Tehran, which caused damage and civilian casualties.

On April 8, Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire. Subsequent talks in Islamabad ended without results.

Although there was no announcement of the resumption of hostilities, the US began a blockade of Iranian ports. Mediators are trying to organize a new round of talks.