Council Regulation (EU) 2026/1164 of 22 May 2026 amending 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
Date: 2026-05-22
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, Iran, Red Sea, Russia, Russo-Ukrainian issue, Ukraine, economic sanctions, freedom of navigation, international sanctions, legal person, natural person, strait








L_202601164EN.000101.fmx.xml












Official Journal of the European Union


EN
L series













2026/1164


26.5.2026







            COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2026/1164
         
of 22 May 2026
         
amending 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


THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 215 thereof,


Having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/1157 of 22 May 2026 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 (1) 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,


Having regard to the joint proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and of the European Commission,

Whereas:







(1)


On 20 July 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 (2) and Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 (3), 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.












(2)


On 14 May 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/1336 (4) which amended Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 and extended the scope of the restrictive measures to cover persons supplying, selling or otherwise involved in transferring Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicles or missiles or related technologies to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region, or to persons, entities or bodies acting in breach of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2216 (2015).












(3)


In view of the gravity of the situation, and in response to Iran’s actions undermining the freedom of navigation, including the rights to transit passage and to innocent passage, in the Middle East, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2026/1157 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 to introduce further restrictive measures with regard to Iran.












(4)


It is appropriate to amend the listing criteria to allow for asset freeze measures against natural or legal persons, entities or bodies responsible for, supporting, implementing or benefiting from Iran’s actions or policies undermining the freedom of navigation in the Middle East. It is also appropriate to amend the title.












(5)


Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 should therefore be amended accordingly,





HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:



Article 1
Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 is amended as follows:






(1)


the title is replaced by the following:

‘Council Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 of 20 July 2023 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 as well as Iran’s actions undermining freedom of navigation in the Middle East’
;









(2)


in Article 3, paragraph 1 is amended as follows:






(a)


in point (b), subpoint (iii) is replaced by the following:






‘(iii)


to natural or legal persons, entities or bodies acting in breach of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015);’




;










(b)


the following point is inserted:






‘(ba)


responsible for, supporting, implementing or benefiting from Iran’s actions or policies undermining the freedom of navigation in the Middle East; or,’




;










(c)


point (c) is replaced by the following:






‘(c)


associated with natural or legal persons, entities or bodies referred to in point (a), (b) or (ba);’.














Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.




This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 22 May 2026.


For the Council


The President

M. DAMIANOS
            





(1)  
            OJ L, 2026/1157, 26.5.2026, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/1157/oj.

(2)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 of 20 July 2023 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 186, 25.7.2023, p. 20, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2023/1532/oj).

(3)  Council Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 of 20 July 2023 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 186, 25.7.2023, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/1529/oj).

(4)  Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/1336 of 14 May 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine (OJ L, 2024/1336, 15.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/1336/oj).


ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2026/1164/oj
ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)