BRUSSELS/PARIS, April 20 (Reuters) – The European Union is set to expand its Iran sanctions to include individuals and groups responsible for blocking the Strait of Hormuz. This key waterway has been largely closed for almost two months, disrupting global energy and commodity markets, according to two EU diplomats.

Tehran effectively shut down the strait following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began on February 28. This action has cut off about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

More than a dozen tankers managed to pass through Hormuz after Iran briefly announced it was open on Friday. However, this ceasefire is now at risk because the United States seized an Iranian cargo ship while maintaining its military blockade on Iranian ports.

“There was a political agreement among ambassadors to change the sanctions criteria regarding Iran, allowing us to include individuals and entities that hinder freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” one diplomat stated.

A second diplomatic source mentioned that the European External Action Service would require a few weeks to prepare new listings. The EEAS is responsible for imposing sanctions on people and companies, while the European Commission handles broader sector-wide restrictions.

In January, the EU designated Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, and in March, it listed Iranian officials for human rights violations.