Iran

Restrictions on Financial Transactions involving Iran

From 1 March 2012, transactions of $20,000 or more between Australia and Iran are prohibited without prior authorisation from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. More information: Restrictions on Financial Transactions involving Iran

On 27 December 2006, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolution 1737 (2006) imposing sanctions in relation to Iran in response to the proliferation risks presented by the Iranian nuclear program and, in this context, by Iran's continuing failure to meet the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors and to comply with the provisions of Security Council resolution 1696 (2006). The sanctions were extended by UNSC resolutions 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008) and 1929 (2010).

More information on resolution 1929 (2010)

On 4 August 2010, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade specified 150 Iranian entities with which it is prohibited to do business without prior authorisation.

Prohibitions relating to goods and technology

1. The unauthorised supply, sale or transfer to the Iran of the following goods:

  1. items mentioned in Guidelines for the Export of Nuclear Material, Equipment and Technology INFCIRC/254/Rev.9/Part 1;
  2. items mentioned in Guidelines for Transfers of Nuclear-related Dual use Equipment, Materials, Software and Related Technology INFCIRC/254/Rev.7/Part 2;
  3. items, materials, equipment, goods and technology related to ballistic missile-related programmes mentioned in S/2010/263;
  4. items that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has determined could, if exported to Iran, contribute to Iran's enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems, or to the pursuit of activities related to other topics about which the IAEA has expressed concerns or identified as outstanding mentioned in the Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions - Iran) (Export Sanctioned Goods) List Determination 2008;
  5. any battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles or missile systems as defined for the purpose of the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, or related materiel, including spare parts;
  6. other items determined by the Security Council or the Committee established by the Security Council under Resolution 1737 (the 1737 Committee) (no other such items have been determined).

2. The transfer of technology or technical assistance to Iran related to any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using ballistic missile technology.

3. The procurement from Iran of:

  1. the items mentioned in 1(a), (b) and (c) above;
  2. any arms or related materiel

Prohibitions relating to services

4. The unauthorised provision to Iran of technical assistance or training, financial assistance, investment, brokering or other services, and the transfer of financial resources or services related to the supply, sale, transfer, manufacture or use of goods referred to in 1:

5. The unauthorised provision of bunkering services, such as provision of fuel or supplies, or other servicing of vessels, to Iranian-owned or -contracted vessels, including chartered vessels.

Prohibitions relating to investment and business dealings

6. The sale, or otherwise making available, to Iran or an Iranian person or entity, of an interest in any commercial activity involving uranium mining, the production or use of nuclear materials and technology, in particular uranium-enrichment and reprocessing activities, all heavy-water activities, or technology-related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

7. The unauthorised conduct of business with an Iranian entity specified by the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Iran) (Specified Entities) List 2010 on the grounds that unauthorised business with that entity may contribute to Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities, the development of nuclear delivery systems or a violation of resolutions 1737, 1747, 1803 or 1929.

Targeted financial sanctions

8. Prohibition relating to the use or dealing with the assets of, and the making available of assets to:

  1. persons and entities listed by the Security Council or by the 1737 Committee (PDF);
  2. persons and entities acting on their behalf of, or at their direction, as well as to entities owned or controlled (including through illicit means) by them.
    • Where the Minister for Foreign Affairs is able to determine that certain persons and entities meet the description in b. above, he directs that their names and other available identifying information be added to the Consolidated List of persons and entities subject to UNSC targeted financial sanctions maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (see link below). The prohibition described above is not, however, limited to the persons and entities determined by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, but applies to any person or entity mentioned in b.
      • 9 persons and 9 entities were added on 15 October 2008
      • 3 persons and 9 entities were added on 9 August 2010.

Travel bans

9. Travel restrictions on individuals listed by the Security Council or Sanctions Committee.

Authorisations and inquiries

To apply for an authorisation to engage in conduct otherwise prohibited by sanctions, or to make an inquiry as to whether a specific transaction is subject to sanctions, please use the UN Sanctions Permit Management System.

See also