Case T-93/25: Action brought on 7 February 2025 – Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines v Council
Date: 2025-02-07
Institutions: General Court
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, Iran, Russia, Russo-Ukrainian issue, economic sanctions, international sanctions, legal person, military equipment, navy, principle of proportionality








C_202501669EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
C series













C/2025/1669


24.3.2025






Action brought on 7 February 2025 – Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines v Council


(Case T-93/25)

(C/2025/1669)
Language of the case: English

Parties


Applicant: Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (Tehran, Iran) (represented by: V. Ostrovskis, C. Cauvin, lawyers)

Defendant: Council of the European Union

Form of order sought

The applicant claims that the Court should:






—


annul Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2894 of 18 November 2024, (1) insofar as it concerns the applicant;










—


annul Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2896 of 18 November 2024, (2) insofar as it concerns the applicant; and










—


order the Council of the European Union to bear the full costs and expenses of the proceedings, including those incurred by the applicant for its defense.





Pleas in law and main arguments

In support of the action, the applicant relies on five pleas in law.






1.


First plea in law, alleging the failure to meet the burden of proof.






—


The evidence presented by the Council does not substantiate the claims made in the Statement of Reasons. In particular, the Council does not provide evidence that the applicant is associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (‘IRGCN’), nor does it substantiate the other statements from the statement of reasons according to which the applicant is involved in shipping military cargo or converting ships into drone carriers.














2.


Second plea in law, alleging an error of assessment.






—


The Council committed an error of assessment in concluding that the applicant is associated with IRGCN. Such statement is not substantiated by the evidence presented by the Council. Furthermore, the Council has incorrectly assessed the facts and erred in law by incorrectly applying the ‘association’ criterion.














3.


Third plea in law, alleging the violation of the obligation to state reasons.










4.


Fourth plea in law, alleging the violation of the principle of legality.










5.


Fifth plea in law, alleging the violation of the principle of proportionality.






(1)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2894 of 18 November 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region (OJ L, 2024/2894).

(2)  Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2896 of 18 November 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region (OJ L, 2024/2896).


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2025/1669/oj
ISSN 1977-091X (electronic edition)