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THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of European Union,Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 of 20 July 2023 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region as well as Iran’s actions undermining freedom of navigation in the Middle Eastnote, and in particular Article 7(1) thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,Whereas:
(1)On 20 July 2023, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/1529note.
(2)On 22 May 2026, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2026/1157note amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 allowing for the imposition of travel restrictions and asset freeze measures against persons and entities responsible for, supporting, implementing or benefitting from Iran’s actions or policies undermining the freedom of navigation in the Middle East.
(3)In view of the gravity of the situation, two persons and one entity should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2023/1529.
(4)Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1#
Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2#
This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 is amended as follows:
(1)the following entries are added under the heading ‘A. Natural persons’:| Names (Transliteration into Latin script) | Names | Identifying information | Reasons for listing | Date of listing25. | Mohammad AKBARZADEH | محمد اکبرزاده(Farsi spelling) | Position(s): Deputy Commander for Political Affairs of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN)Nationality: IranianGender: male | Mohammad Akbarzadeh is Deputy Commander for Political Affairs of the EU-listed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) and acts as the spokesperson for the IRGCN.The IRGCN implements Iran’s policies undermining the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz by enforcing a toll system in the Strait of Hormuz and by threatening, harassing, and attacking multiple commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. In his statements, Akbarzadeh states that Iran has complete control over the Strait of Hormuz and threatens to use missiles or drones against vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.Mohammad Akbarzadeh therefore supports and implements Iran’s actions and policies undermining the freedom of navigation in the Middle East. | 8.6.202626. | Hamid HOSSEINI | حمید حسینی(Farsi spelling) | Position(s): Spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union.Nationality: IranianGender: male | Hamid Hosseini is the spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union and member of Iran’s Chamber of Commerce.Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union is an industry association whose members are companies involved in the production and export of petroleum, gas and petrochemicals products. The Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps are heavily involved in Iran’s oil exports.Iran has implemented a policy which requires vessels transiting through the Strait of Hormuz to submit information, undergo assessment, and pay transit fees to Iranian authorities. In his capacity as spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union Hosseini explains and promotes this policy through statements in international and Iranian media outlets.Hamid Hosseini therefore supports and implements Iran’s actions and policies undermining the freedom of navigation in the Middle East. | 8.6.2026;
(2)the following entry is added under the heading ‘B. Legal persons, entities and bodies’:| Names (Transliteration into Latin script) | Names | Identifying information | Reasons for listing | Date of listing27. | Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) Hormozgan Provincial Command | | Place of registration: Iran | The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) Hormozgan Provincial Command is a sub-division of the EU-listed IRGCN. The IRGCN has assumed control of the Strait of Hormuz and implemented a toll system in the Strait whereby vessels are required to provide identifying documentation as well as cargo and destination information to intermediaries who then pass the information on to the Hormozgan Provincial Command. On the basis of this information, the Hormozgan Provincial Command screens vessels and determines which ones are allowed to transit through the Strait, sometimes subject to the payment of a toll.The IRGCN’s Hormozgan Provincial Command therefore implements Iran’s actions or policies undermining the freedom of navigation in the Middle East. | 8.6.2026
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