The European Union said on Monday it had imposed sanctions on two Iranian individuals ​and a unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard ‌Corps for threatening the freedom of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world’s oil flows.

The ​move marked the first time the bloc has ​used a new powers to sanction Iran for ⁠restricting freedom of navigation.

The EU said in a written statement ​that it had added the Hormozgan Provincial Command of ​the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy to its sanctions list, as well as Mohammad Akbarzadeh and Hamid Hosseini.

It said Akbarzadeh ​is Deputy Commander for Political Affairs of the ​IRGC Navy and Hosseini is a representative of Iran’s Oil, Gas ‌and ⁠Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union.

Iran moved to close the Strait of Hormuz after US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28.

“Iran’s actions are unacceptable. In response member ​states have approved ​sanctions against ⁠Iranian entities and individuals involved in disrupting transit through the Strait of Hormuz,” ​Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, ​said ⁠earlier at a news conference in Cyprus.

“This is the first time the EU has applied its new freedom ⁠of ​navigation regime and when necessary ​we will apply it again,” added Kallas.