UK applies sanctions on links to Iran’s nuclear programme
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-29)

UK applies sanctions on over 70 Iranian individuals and organisations linked to Iran’s nuclear programme in response to years of Iranian nuclear escalation.

- UK applies sanctions on over 70 Iranian individuals and organisations linked to Iran’s nuclear programme
- sanctions follow UK, France and Germany’s decision to trigger snapback mechanism at end of August in response to years of Iranian nuclear escalation
- Foreign Secretary sends clear message to Tehran with designations and commitment to preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon
UK sanctions have been applied to 71 individuals and entities with links to Iran’s nuclear programme.

Iranian financial institutions and energy companies are amongst those sanctioned, as well as Iranian figures and entities involved in facilitating the nuclear programme.

This action follows the decision by the UK, France and Germany (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/e3-joint-statement-on-iran-initiation-of-the-snapback-process) to trigger the snapback mechanism, imposing sanctions on Iran following years of Iranian nuclear escalation.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:

Iran’s nuclear programme has long been a serious concern to the international community, as a significant threat to global peace and security. The international community has repeatedly given Iran a chance to provide credible assurances about the intent of the programme, which they have repeatedly failed to do.

Since Iran first stopped complying with the JCPoA nuclear deal in 2019, accumulating a stockpile of enriched uranium 48 times over the limit, we have committed significant time and effort to resolve these issues through negotiation. In July we offered Iran a final chance to avoid sanctions being reapplied, but Iran chose not to engage.

We will continue to pursue diplomatic routes and negotiations and we continue to urge Iran to comply.

This sanctions package sends a clear message to Tehran – we will continue to take every step necessary to prevent Iran ever developing a nuclear weapon.

This announcement has been made alongside European Union action and follows months of talks with Iran, alongside Germany and France.

Iran’s nuclear programme has long posed a serious threat to international peace and security, breaking almost all restrictions imposed under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). This includes accumulating a stockpile of enriched uranium 48 times over the JCPoA limit and enriching over 440 kilograms of uranium to 60%. Iran is the only country without nuclear weapons to enrich uranium to this level and scale.

As part of the snapback process, further measures will be set out in the coming days, including legislation to comply with our UN Iran sanctions obligations.

Following the implementation of snapback sanctions, the UK also intends to bring in legislation to impose further sectoral measures. In line with our partners, this will target finance, energy, shipping, software, and other significant industries which are advancing Iranian nuclear escalation.

The following individuals and entities were sanctioned yesterday by the UK Government. 60 entities are subject to an asset freeze and director disqualification sanctions, two entities are subject to an asset freeze, and nine individuals are subject to an asset freeze, director disqualification and travel ban with immediate effect.

The following individuals are subject to a travel ban, asset freeze and director disqualification:
- Ali Reza KHANCHI
- Massoud AKHAVAN-FARD
- Naser Rastkhah
- Said Esmail KHALILIPOUR
- Hoseyn FAQIHIAN
- Behzad SOLTANI
- AGHAZADEH, Reza
- NAMJOO, Majid
- SALEHI, Ali Akbar
The following organisations are subject to an asset freeze and director disqualification:
- Arian Bank
- Banco Internacional de Desarrollo
- Bank Mellat
- Bank Melli
- Bank Melli Printing and Publishing Company (BMPPC)
- Bank Refah Kargan
- Bank Saderat Iran
- Bank Tejarat
- Cement Investment and Development Company (CIDCO)
- Europaisch-Iranische Handelsbank AG (EIH)
- Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI)
- First Islamic Investment Bank
- Future Bank BSC
- Mazandaran Cement Company
- Melli Agrochemical Company PJS
- Melli Bank plc
- Onerbank ZAO
- Persia International Bank Plc
- Post Bank of Iran
- Sina Bank
- Tosee Taavon Bank (aka Cooperative Development Bank)
- Iran Aluminium Company
- Nuclear Fuel Production and Procurement Company (NFPC)
- Machine Sazi Arak (MSA)
- Research Institute of Nuclear Science & Technology
- Azarab Industries
- Bonab Research Center
- Industrial Development & Renovation Organization (IDRO)
- Iran Insurance Company
- Iran Liquefied Natural Gas Co.
- Iranian Offshore Engineering & Construction Co (IOEC)
- Kala Naft
- EMKA Company
- Nuclear Reactors Fuel Company
- Aghajari Oil & Gas Production Company (AOGPC)
- Arvandan Oil & Gas Company (AOGC)
- Bank of Industry and Mine (of Iran)
- East Oil & Gas Production Company (EOGPC)
- Gachsaran Oil & Gas Company
- Iran Fuel Conservation Organization (IFCO)
- Iranian Oil Pipelines and Telecommunications Company (IOPTC)
- Masjed-soleyman Oil & Gas Company (MOGC)
- Naftiran Intertrade Company (a.k.a. Naftiran Trade Company) (NICO)
- National Iranian Drilling Company (NIDC)
- National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC)
- National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC)
- National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) International Affairs Ltd
- National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) PTE LTD
- National Iranian Oil Company Nederland (a.k.a.: NIOC Netherlands Representation Office)
- National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC)
- National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC)
- North Drilling Company (NDC)
- Petro Suisse Intertrade Company SA (Petro Suisse)
- Petroiran Development Company (PEDCO) Ltd (aka. PetroIran)
- Petropars Iran Company
- Petropars Ltd.
- Petropars Resources Engineering Ltd
- Petropars UK Limited
- South Zagros Oil & Gas Production Company
- Good Luck Shipping Company LLC
The following organisations are subject to an asset freeze:
- Ministry of Energy
- Ministry of Petroleum
On background:
- Yesterday’s designations were made under the Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
- For access to the full UK sanctions list, click here (https://search-uk-sanctions-list.service.gov.uk/), and for additional guidance about UK sanctions, click here (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/starter-guide-to-uk-sanctions).
- Appropriate mitigations, such as winddown General Licences issued by the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation, have been put in place to manage unintended consequences for UK businesses.
- Future sanctions legislation targeting sectors of Iran’s economy will compliment today’s sanctions on individuals and organisations linked to Iran’s nuclear programme, and the re-imposition of UN sanctions.
- For more information on the decision to trigger snapback: Iran nuclear: E3 foreign ministers’ letter announcing triggering of snapback, 28 August 2025 - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/iran-nuclear-e3-foreign-ministers-letter-announcing-triggering-of-snapback-28-august-2025) and E3 joint statement on Iran: Initiation of the snapback process - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/e3-joint-statement-on-iran-initiation-of-the-snapback-process)
- For more information on implementation of sanctions linked to Iran’s nuclear programme: E3 joint statement on Iran: activation of the snapback - GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/news/e3-joint-statement-on-iran-activation-of-the-snapback)
- Definitions:
- Asset freeze: Under an asset freeze it is generally prohibited to deal with the frozen funds or economic resources, owned, held or controlled by a designated person; make funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to, or for the benefit of, a designated person; and intentionally participate in activities that, knowingly, have the object of purpose of directly or indirectly circumventing the financial sanctions prohibitions. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world.
- Travel ban: a travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, as the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.
- Director disqualification: Where director disqualification sanctions apply, it is an offence for a person designated for the purpose of those sanctions to act as a director of a UK company, or a foreign company that is sufficiently-connected to the UK, or to take part in the management, formation or promotion of a company.
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