MOSCOW, June 8 (HS/RIA Novosti) - The European Union imposed on Monday restrictions on Iran for the first time as part of a new sanctions regime in connection with the threat to freedom of navigation, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.

Today also it will be the first time where the freedom of navigation sanctions will be applied on Iran, Kallas told reporters.

Particularly, the European Council is listing the Hormozgan Provincial Command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN), according to the statement.

Furthermore, the EU is listing today Mohammad Akbarzadeh and Hamid Hosseini for supporting Iran's actions impeding lawful transit passage and freedom of navigation, it read.

Akbarzadeh is Deputy Commander for Political Affairs of the IRGC Navy acting also as the spokesman of the organization, and Hosseini is a representative of Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union and a member of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, according to the statement.

On February 28, the United States and Israel began striking targets on Iranian territory. On April 7, Washington and Tehran announced a ceasefire, but the US imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, while Iran announced the establishment of special transit rules through the Strait of Hormuz. US authorities have demanded that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz for free navigation and drop fees for passage through the waterway.

On May 25, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said it would be incorrect to call Iran's charges on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz tolls. They are not tolls but fees for services provided and for maintaining the environmental situation in the strait, the Persian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman, he said. He also said that Iran continues to work with Oman on a shipping mechanism for the strait.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar