Sanctions Iran - Nuclear Technology
Sanctions concerning nuclear technology
As Implementation Day took place on 16 January 2016, the amendments to the European Union nuclear sanctions as set out in Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1863 of 18 October 2015 are being implemented. For further information concerning the amendments that have been implemented, readers are referred to the texts concerning each type of sanction on this website and to the European Commission's Information Note in PDF format via the link below.
Information Note on EU sanctions to be lifted under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)
Description of the sanctions
An introduction of the various types of sanctions concerning nuclear technology that currently apply against Iran is given below. Clicking on the heading for each type of sanction (to the left on this page) produces a simplified description of each one of the sanctions.
The sanctions are largely decided by legal instruments adopted by the Council of the European Union and are now contained in Council Decision 413/2010/CFSP and its subsequent amendments and Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2012, also with subsequent amendments. Each section specifies the article in which the sanctions are described in detail. The subsequent amendments mean that the original wording of a given article in either of the fundamental legal instruments may have been superseded or expanded – for this reason it is important to check subsequent legal instruments to be sure of the current wording. Account should be taken of the fact that the sanctions regime has changed considerably after Implementation Day on 16 January 2016. The documents can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.
It is worth noting that a number of important definitions that affect the interpretation of the articles dealing with prohibitions, restrictions or monitoring, depending on the type of sanction, can be found in Article 1 of Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2012. Among others it contains is a broad definition of what is to be understood by 'Iranian person, entity or body', which is a term to which most of the prohibitions refer.
The prohibitions and regulations that apply under the sanctions are, in most cases, supplemented with a prohibition on intentionally participating in their circumvention. This prohibition is gathered in Article 41 of Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2012.
It is indicated under each type of sanction which Swedish authority has been designated the competent authority under the Council Regulation above or is in some other way responsible for the relevant policy area and the implementation of the sanction in Sweden. A list of these competent authorities can be found under the heading 'Competent Swedish authorities'. Questions about interpretation of each regulation and how they are to be applied in Sweden should primarily be addressed to these authorities.
General information about the system of sanctions against Iran can be provided by the Middle East and North Africa Department, the Department for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation and the sanctions coordinators at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Sanctions against Iran concerning nuclear technology
Arms embargo;
freezing of assets and prohibition on the provision of assets;
travel restrictions;
and inspections of the Iranian transport sector in certain cases (aviation and shipping).
Restrictions on exports and imports with associated prohibitions and permit requirements for certain products and services:
permit requirements for products and services related to nuclear materials;
permit requirements for dual-use products;
prohibition on the export etc. of products related to missile technology;
permit requirements for certain metals;
and permit requirements for certain software.
Competent Swedish authorities
The Swedish government agencies that have been designated competent authorities for sanctions against Iran under Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 are listed below. They process such matters as applications for permits and exemptions. Authorities that are responsible in other ways for issues concerning certain types of sanctions are also listed.
