The current sanctions on Iran are imposed by various entities, including the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, and other countries. Here is a brief overview of some of the major sanctions:
- **U.S. Sanctions**:
- The United States has imposed sanctions on Iran since 1979, following the seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran. The sanctions have been expanded and modified over the years, targeting various sectors and activities of the Iranian regime, such as nuclear and ballistic missile programs, human rights abuses, terrorism, and regional destabilization.
- The U.S. sanctions block Iranian government assets in the United States, ban nearly all U.S. trade with Iran (except food and agricultural commodities, medicine, medical supplies, and humanitarian-related goods), and prohibit foreign assistance and arms sales to Iran. The sanctions also impose secondary sanctions on non-U.S. persons and entities that engage in certain transactions with Iran or designated Iranian persons and entities.
- The U.S. sanctions were partially lifted in 2016, following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a multilateral agreement that aimed to limit Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. However, in 2018, the United States withdrew from the JCPOA and re-imposed the sanctions that had been waived or suspended under the agreement. The U.S. sanctions were further expanded in 2019 and 2020 to cover Iran's financial sector, metals industry, oil exports, and other sources of revenue¹².
- **U.N. Sanctions**:
- The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has imposed sanctions on Iran since 2006, in response to Iran's failure to comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UNSC resolutions on its nuclear program. The sanctions include an arms embargo, a ban on Iran's ballistic missile activities, travel bans and asset freezes on designated individuals and entities, and restrictions on Iran's nuclear-related and dual-use items and technology transfers.
- The U.N. sanctions were lifted in 2016, as part of the JCPOA implementation. However, in 2020, the United States attempted to invoke the "snapback" mechanism of the JCPOA, which would restore all the previous U.N. sanctions on Iran. The U.S. move was rejected by the other parties to the JCPOA and the majority of the UNSC members, who argued that the United States had no legal standing to trigger the snapback after withdrawing from the agreement³⁴.
- **E.U. Sanctions**:
- The European Union has imposed sanctions on Iran since 2007, in support of the U.N. resolutions and the international efforts to address Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile issues. The E.U. sanctions include an arms embargo, a ban on Iran's ballistic missile activities, travel bans and asset freezes on designated individuals and entities, and restrictions on Iran's nuclear-related and dual-use items and technology transfers. The E.U. sanctions also target Iran's oil and gas sector, financial sector, transportation sector, and other areas of concern.
- The E.U. sanctions were lifted in 2016, as part of the JCPOA implementation. The E.U. has remained committed to the JCPOA and has opposed the U.S. withdrawal and re-imposition of sanctions. The E.U. has also established a special mechanism, known as INSTEX, to facilitate legitimate trade with Iran and circumvent the U.S. sanctions. However, the E.U. has also expressed concerns over Iran's breaches of its JCPOA commitments and its regional activities, and has imposed additional sanctions on Iran for human rights violations and involvement in terrorist plots⁵ .
- **Other Countries' Sanctions**:
- Several other countries have also imposed sanctions on Iran, either in coordination with the U.S., the U.N., or the E.U., or independently. These countries include Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The sanctions vary in scope and severity, but generally target Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, human rights abuses, terrorism, and regional destabilization. Some of these countries have also lifted or eased their sanctions in accordance with the JCPOA, while others have followed the U.S. lead and re-imposed or expanded their sanctions .
These are some of the current sanctions on Iran. For more information, you can visit the websites of the relevant authorities, such as the U.S. Department of State¹, the U.N. Security Council³, the E.U. External Action Service⁵, or the respective governments of other countries. 🌎🔒
Source: Conversation with Bing, 3/8/2024
(1) Iran Sanctions - United States Department of State.
https://www.state.gov/iran-sanctions/.
(2) Iran Sanctions | Office of Foreign Assets Control.
https://ofac.treasury.gov/sanctions-...iran-sanctions.
(3) United States sanctions against Iran - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United...s_against_Iran.
(4) July 20, 2023 U.S. Sanctions on Iran - CRS Reports.
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12452.
(5) International sanctions against Iran - Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intern...s_against_Iran.