EU sanctions Iranian individuals, entities over Strait of Hormuz blockade

The EU has imposed sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities over the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy shipping lane, citing threats to freedom of maritime navigation.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the measures Monday at a news conference on the sidelines of an EU defense ministers' meeting in Nicosia, Cyprus. "We have imposed sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities on charges of threatening freedom of maritime navigation," she said.

Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz in late February, shortly after coming under attack by the United States and Israel, and has since used the closure as leverage in end-of-war negotiations.

On the EU's 90 billion euro (about $104 billion, or roughly 156 trillion won) loan to Ukraine, Kallas said the first tranche of 5.9 billion euros (about 10 trillion won) is set to be disbursed this month and will be focused on Ukraine's drone sector. The European Commission separately announced Monday that it had released approximately 2.9 billion euros (about 5 trillion won) in fiscal support for Ukraine.

Asked about the prospects for negotiations with Russia, Kallas said she did not feel that stage had been reached yet. "Strategic patience is also needed to push Russia into a situation where it genuinely comes to the negotiating table," she added.

Kallas has previously warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin's stated willingness to discuss a European security framework was a "trap" set by Moscow, reiterating her caution on the matter.