Iran Sanctions

Canada's sanctions against Iran under the Special Economic Measures Act. Total designated: 480 (222 individuals, 256 entities, 2 ships). Earliest listing: 2016-02-05, latest listing: 2026-03-25.

UN sanctions regime targeting Iran. Total designated: 121 (43 individuals, 78 entities).

Australia's autonomous sanctions targeting Iran. Total designated: 240 (92 individuals, 148 entities).

Since 2006, the UN Security Council adopted several resolutions requiring Iran to stop its nuclear proliferation activities. These resolutions were accompanied by restrictive measures (sanctions), which the EU also transposed. In addition, the EU reinforced the UN measures with various economic and financial sanctions. On 14 July 2015 Iran and the ‘'E3/EU3’ agreed on a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) (see guidelines for a link to the JCPoA Information Note for more information). Following the JCPoA, on Implementation Day (16 January 2016), the EU lifted all its nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions concerning Iran. Consequently, the following activities, including associated services, are again allowed as of Implementation Day: financial, banking and insurance measures; trade in the oil, gas and petrochemical sectors; activity in the shipping, shipbuilding and transport sectors. Moreover, several persons, entities and bodies were delisted and are therefore no longer subject to asset freezes, prohibitions to make funds available and visa bans. The JCPoA foresaw that in case 8 years after adoption day Iran had fulfilled its commitments, the EU would lift its sanctions. However, on Transition Day , (18 October 2023), considering Iran’s non-compliance with its JCPoA commitments, the Council decided to maintain the EU autonomous measures under the regime as well as maintain on the sanctions list the individuals and entities initially designated by the UN for involvement in nuclear or ballistic missiles activities or affiliated to the Islamic Revolutionary guard Corps (IRGC). Thus, a number of measures and restrictions remain in place even after Transition Day. These concern inter alia the arms embargo, restrictive measures related to missile technology, restrictions on certain nuclear-related transfers and activities, and provisions concerning certain metals and software which are subject to an authorisation regime. On 29 September 2025, following the UN Security Council’s decision not to extend the lifting of sanctions on Iran, the Council has decided to reinstate several restrictive measures against Iran, reversing the suspensions implemented under the JCPoA. The reinstated measures include UN sanctions from 2006, integrated into EU law, and additional EU autonomous measures. In addition, the sanctions imposed by the EU in view of the human rights situation in Iran, support for terrorism and other grounds (e.g. the war in Syria, the Iran “drones” regime) are not part of the JCPoA and remain in place to this day. Adopted by: UN and EU.

In several of its Conclusions in 2022 and 2023, the EU has strongly condemned any type of military support by Iran, including deliveries of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to Russia's illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. In view of Iran's continued military support to Russia's war of aggression, on 20 July 2023, the Council established a new framework of targeted sanctions banning the export of components used in the manufacturing of UAVs. The measures also consist of a travel ban to the EU and an asset freeze for persons and entities responsible for, or involved in, Iran's UAV programme. Additionally, EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds available to those listed. Derogations to the restrictive measures are possible, including the delivery of humanitarian aid. Adopted by: EU.

The restrictive measures in relation to serious human rights violations in Iran were first put in place on 12 April 2011. Travel restrictions and an asset freeze were introduced with respect to persons complicit in or responsible for directing or implementing grave human rights violations in the repression of peaceful demonstrators, journalists, human rights defenders, students or other persons who speak up in defense of their legitimate rights. The measures can also be imposed against those who are complicit in or responsible for directing or implementing grave violations of the right to due process, torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, or the indiscriminate, excessive and increasing application of the death penalty, including public executions, stoning, hangings or executions of juvenile offenders in contravention of Iran’s international human rights obligations. On 23 March 2012, in view of the gravity of the human rights situation in Iran, additional restrictive measures were introduced, namely an embargo on equipment which may be used for internal repression and on equipment that may be used to monitor or intercept the Internet and telephone communications on mobile or fixed networks. Adopted by: EU.

The European Commission identifies high-risk third countries having strategic deficiencies in their regime on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism. In line with EU AML directives, gatekeepers such as banks are obliged to apply increased checks and control measures on business relationships and transactions involving these countries.

Jurisdictions subject to a FATF call for action due to strategic deficiencies in AML/CFT. The FATF calls on all members and urges all jurisdictions to apply enhanced due diligence, and in the most serious cases, counter-measures to protect the international financial system from ongoing money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing risks.

Sanctions targeting Iran. Total designated: 43 individuals, 84 entities.

The U.S. Iran Sanctions program comprehensively restricts trade, financial transactions, and investment involving Iran. It implements multiple executive orders, statutes, and UN Security Council Resolutions targeting the Government of Iran, Iranian financial institutions, and various sectors of the Iranian economy including petroleum, petrochemicals, metals, and financial services. The program also addresses human rights abuses, ballistic missile proliferation, UAV-related activities, and conventional arms activities by Iran.

The PAARSS program maintains U.S. sanctions on Bashar al-Assad and his associates, human rights abusers, Captagon traffickers, persons linked to Syria's past proliferation activities, ISIS and Al-Qa'ida affiliates, and Iran and its proxies. Following the June 30, 2025 Executive Order revoking broad Syria sanctions, the program's focus shifted to targeted accountability measures under E.O. 13894 (as amended) and related authorities, replacing the former comprehensive Syria sanctions program.

CAATSA (Public Law 115-44), signed into law on August 2, 2017, imposes sanctions on Iran, Russia, and North Korea through three titles: Title I – Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017; Title II – Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017; and Title III – Korean Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act.

Sanctions regime targeting Iran. 267 designated entities (222 individuals, 45 entities). Designations sourced from the UK. Earliest designation: 2026-02-02, latest update: 2025-08-21.

Sanctions regime targeting Iran's nuclear activities. 303 designated entities (83 individuals, 220 entities). Designations sourced from UK and UN. Earliest designation: 2023-10-18, latest update: 2025-09-29.

Swiss sanctions targeting Iran. Total designated: 937 (286 individuals, 651 entities).

Singapore's targeted financial sanctions regime against designated individuals and entities associated with Iran. The UNSC reinstated the relevant resolutions and the Iran sanctions list (UN 1737 List) on 27 September 2025.

Sanctions regime targeting Iran's nuclear programme, including military goods, missile-related goods, nuclear-related goods, and related import/export restrictions.

Sanctions regime targeting Iran, including asset freeze, trade restrictions on internal repression goods, interception/monitoring technology, and goods of strategic concern.

HM Treasury advisory notice identifying High Risk Third Countries (HRTCs) as defined in the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. Countries are those listed by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) under two categories: (1) High-Risk Jurisdictions subject to a Call for Action (3 jurisdictions - FATF black list), and (2) Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (22 jurisdictions - FATF grey list). UK regulated firms must apply enhanced customer due diligence and enhanced ongoing monitoring on business relationships and transactions involving persons established in these jurisdictions. The notice was last updated on 22 June 2026 reflecting FATF's June 2026 plenary outcomes.

Sanctions regime targeting Iran. Designated: 121 (43 individuals, 78 entities).