Sanctions 8: Timeline of Sanctions

Since 2005, the United States has designated Iranian individuals, companies, and organizations for involvement in nuclear proliferation, ballistic missile development, support for terrorist groups, and human rights abuses. These designations have been made under the following presidential executive orders and pieces of legislation:

 

George W. Bush administration:

• Executive Order 13224 (2001) imposed after the 9/11 attacks, froze the assets in the United States of people and entities accused of aiding or abetting terrorism or who posed a serious danger.
• Executive Order 13382 (2005) blocked assets of people and entities accused of supporting Iran’s nuclear proliferation and missile-related activities.

 

Barack Obama administration:

• The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act (2010) amended the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, which had required sanctions on companies involved in Iran’s energy sector. The new legislation further restricted investments in energy and cut off financing for the Revolutionary Guards.
• Executive Order 13553 (2010) designated Iranian officials responsible for serious human rights abuses after the 2009 Green Movement uprising.
• Executive Order 13574 (2011) blocked U.S. banks from investing in Iran’s petroleum sector, expanding sanctions first applied in the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996.
• Executive Order 13590 (2011) designated people involved in Iran’s energy and petrochemical sectors.
• Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012 (2011) froze the assets of Iranian financial institutions, including the Central Bank, and sanctioned any foreign financial institution that engage in or facilitated transactions with the Central Bank. The goal was to isolate Iran from the global economy.
• Executive Order 13599 (2012) froze the property of the Government of Iran and all Iranian financial institutions in the United States or held by Americans.
• Executive Order 13606 (2012) blocked the property and suspended the entry into the United States of people who helped the Iranian or Syrian governments engage in grave human rights abuses, notably for censorship, monitoring or tracking internet usage.
• Executive Order 13608 (2012) sanctioned people and institutions that facilitated the evasion of sanctions on Iran or Syria and suspended their entry into the United States.
• Executive Order 13622, or the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act (2012), building on the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, sanctioned private or public entities for knowingly involve in the trade of Iranian oil.
• The Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Human Rights Act of 2012 (2012) targeted companies conducting business with National Iranian Oil Company and the National Iranian Tanker Company, including domestic and foreign insurers and shippers.
• Executive Order 13628 (2012) sanctioned individuals or entities that censored free expression and jammed communications in Iran, which is considered a human rights abuse.
• Executive Order 13645 (2013) prohibited transactions in or involving Iranian rials. It also designated Iran’s automotive sector and anyone who materially assisted people on the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons.

 

Donald Trump administration:

• Executive Order 13846 (2018) reimposed sanctions lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear deal or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
• Executive Order 13871 (2019) blocked all U.S. trade with Iran’s iron, steel, aluminum and copper sectors. It also threatened sanctions on any foreign bank that facilitated trade with these sectors.
• Executive Order 13876 (2019) sanctioned the assets of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, his office and anyone he appointed, or anyone who assists his office. It also barred any bank that conducted transactions related of the leader’s office or his appointees. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was sanctioned under this presidential order.
• Executive Order 13902 (2020) blocked transactions with and barred access to the U.S. financial system for any individual or entity operating in the construction, manufacturing, textiles or mining sectors of Iran.
• Executive Order 13949 (2020) authorized sanctions on foreign individuals or entities that supported Iran’s nuclear, missile and conventional arms-related activities. It followed the U.N. Security Council’s rejection of the Trump administration’s attempt to reimpose “snapback” sanctions that had been lifted by the United Nations as part of the 2015 nuclear deal.

The following is a full list of sanctions on Iran. 

Related Material:

• Sanctions 1: Impact of Iran's Oil Exports
• Sanctions 2: What Iran Wants Lifted
• Sanctions 3: Iran's Economy in 2020
• Sanctions 4: The "Chilling Effect" of U.S. Sanctions on Iran
• Sanctions 5: Trump's "Maximum Pressure" Targets
• Sanctions 6: U.S. Sanctions Many Iran Proxies
• Sanctions 7: Iran’s Economy by the Numbers

June 28, 2005 (Executive Order 13382)

Military for involvement in Iran's ballistic missile development

• Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO)
• Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group
• Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group

Nuclear for operating Iran's nuclear facilities

• Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI)

January 4, 2006 (Executive Order 13382)

Nuclear

• Novin Energy Company: Transferred millions of dollars on behalf the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) to entities associated with Iran's nuclear program.
• Mesbah Energy Company: AEOI Subordinate and procurer for Iran's heavy water project.

July 18, 2006 (Executive Order 13382)

Construction, Engineering, and Technology

• Sanam Industrial Group: Subordinate of Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO). Purchased millions of dollars worth of equipment from entities associated with missile proliferation.
• Ya Mahdi Industries Group: Subordinate of Iran’s AIO. Made international purchases of missile-related technology and goods for Iran.

January 9, 2007 (Executive Order 13882)

Banks

• Bank Sepah/Bank Sepah International Plc (UK): State-owned bank. U.S. Treasury alleges Bank Sepah provides support to entities affiliated with Iran’s nuclear program.

Individuals

• Ahmad Derakhshandeh: Chairman and Director of Bank Sepah.

February 16, 2007 (Executive Order 13382)

Construction, Engineering, Industry and Technology

• Kalaye Electric Company: Affiliated with centrifuge research and development through the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).
• Kavoshyar Company: Wholly-owned by AEOI.
• Pioneer Energy Industries Company: Provides technical support services to AEOI.

March 30, 2007 (Executive Order 13382)

Military

• Defense Industries Organization (DIO): Controlled by Iran's Ministry of Defense Armed Forces Logistics. Involved in Iran’s nuclear and missiles programs.

June 8, 2007 (Executive Order 13382)

Construction, Engineering, Industry and Technology

• Pars Tarash (Pars Trash Co.): Affiliated with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).
• Farayand Technique: Affiliated with the AEOI.
• Fajr Industries Group (Industrial Factories of Precision Machinery): Affiliated with Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO).
• Mizan Machine Manufacturing Group: Affiliated with AIO.

June 15, 2007 (Executive Order 13382)

Individuals

• Ali Hajinia Leilabadi: Agent of Mesbah Energy Company. Involved in Iran’s heavy water development.
• Mohammad Qannadi: Agent of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

October 25, 2007 (Executive Order 13382 and Executive Order 13224)

Banks

• Bank Melli Iran (Executive Order 13382): Iran's largest bank. Provides services to entities involved in nuclear and ballistic missile programs, Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) and Qods Force.
• Bank Mellat (Executive Order 13382): Provides banking services to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and Novin Energy Company.
• Bank Saderat Iran (Executive Order 13224): Has approximately 3,200 branch offices. U.S. Treasury alleges Iranian Government uses the bank to channel funds to terrorist organizations.

Petroleum and Petrochemicals

• Oriental Oil Kish (Executive Order 13382): Owned or controlled by the IRGC.

Construction, Engineering, Industry and Technology (Executive Order 13382)

• Khatam al-Anbya Construction Headquarters: Engineering arm of IRGC. Involved in construction of streets, highways, tunnels, water conveyance projects, agricultural restoration projects, and pipelines.
• Ghorb Nooh: Owned or controlled by the IRGC or its leaders. Affiliate of Khatam al-Anbya.
• Sahel Consultant Engineering: Owned or controlled by IRGC.
• Ghorb-e Karbala: Owned or controlled by IRGC.
• Sepasad Engineering Co.: Owned or controlled by IRGC. Specializes in earth and concrete dam construction, road construction, and tunneling.
• Omran Sahel: Owned or controlled by IRGC.
• Hara Company: Owned or controlled by IRGC. Reportedly building a tunnel facility in northeast Tehran for use in nuclear weapons research and development.
• Gharargahe Sazandegi Ghaem: Owned or controlled by IRGC.

Military (Executive Order 13382)

• Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC): Elite branch of Iran’s military. Involved in nuclear and ballistic missiles programs.
• Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL): Iran’s ministry of defense. It has ultimate authority over Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO). AIO was designated on June 28, 2005.
• IRGC-Qods Force (Executive Order 13224): Branch of IRGC. The United States alleges that Qods Force provides material support to terrorist organizations.

Individuals (Executive Order 13382)

• Ahmad Vahid Dastjerdi: Head of Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO).
• Bahmanyar Morteza Bahmanyar: Head of Finance & Budget Department, AIO.
• Reza-Gholi Esmaeli: Head of Trade and International Affairs Dept., AIO.
• General Hosein Salimi: Commander of the Air Force, IRGC.
• Brigadier General Morteza Rezaie: Deputy Commander of the IRGC.
• Vice Admiral Ali Akhbar Ahmadian: Then Chief of IRGC Joint Staff.
• Brigadier Gen. Mohammad Hejazi: Then Commander of Basij resistance force, IRGC.
• Brigadier General Qasem Soleimani: Commander of the Qods Force, IRGC.

 

March 12, 2008 (Executive Order 13382)

Banks

• Future Bank, B.S.C.: Investment bank operating in Iran and Persian Gulf States. Joint venture of Bank Saderat Iran, Bank Melli Iran, and Ahli United Bank (Bahrain) with branches and in Bahrain and a representative office in Tehran.

 

July 8, 2008 (Executive Order 13382)

Construction, Engineering, Industry and Technology

• Parchin Chemical Industries: Imports and exports chemical goods throughout the world as a subsidiary of Iran’s Defense Industries Organization (DIO). DIO was designated on March 30, 2007.
• 7th of Tir: DIO subsidiary involved in Iran's nuclear centrifuge development program.
• Ammunition and Metallurgy Industries Group: DIO subsidiary and parent of 7th of Tir.
• Shahid Sattari Industries: Manufacturing and maintains ground support equipment for Shahid Bakeri Industries Group (SBIG). SBIG was designated on June 28, 2005 for its role in Iran’s missile program.
• TAMAS Company: A nuclear fuel production company.

Individuals

• Dawood Agha-Jani: Affiliated with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI). Head of Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant at Natanz, Iran's main uranium enrichment facility.
• Mohsen Fakhrizadeh-Mahabadi: Director of nuclear program at Iran's Center for Readiness and New Defense Technology and former head of Iran's Physics Research Center.
• Moshen Hojati: Affiliated with Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), the overall manager of Iran's missile program.
• Mehrdada Akhlaghi Ketabachi: Head of Shahid Bakeri Industries Group (SBIG).
• Naser Maleki: Oversees work on the Shahab-3 ballistic missile program. Head of Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG). SHIG was designated on June 28, 2005 for its role in Iran’s ballistic missile program.
• General Yahya Rahim-Safavi: Armed forces advisor to Ayatollah Khamenei and former IRGC commander.

 

August 12, 2008 (Executive Order 13382)

Nuclear

• Esfahan Nuclear Fuel Research and Production Center: Uranium fuel conversion facility for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).
• Jabber Ibn Hayan: Performs nuclear research, development, and laboratory services on the nuclear fuel cycle for the AEOI.
• Nuclear Research Center for Agriculture and Medicine: Research component of AEOI.
• Joza Industrial Company: Procurement front company for Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (SHIG). SHIG was designated on June 28, 2005.
• Safety Equipment Procurement Company (SEP Co.): Procurement front company for Aerospace Industries Organization of Iran (AIO).

September 10, 2008 (Executive Order 13382)

Shipping

• Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL): State-owned shipping company. Transports sanctioned missile-related and proliferation-related military cargo for Iran’s government.
• Asia Marine Network PTE (IRISL Asia PTE) Ltd./CISCO Shipping Co. Ltd. (IRISL Korea Co. Ltd.)/ Iran o Hind Shipping Company/ Iran o Misr Shipping Company/Irinivestship, Ltd./IRISL Benelux NV/IRISL China Shipping Co., Ltd./IRISL Europe GMbH/IRISL (Malta) Limited/IRISL Marine Services & Engineering Company/IRISL Multimodal Transport Co./IRISL (UK) Ltd./IRITAL Shipping SRL Company/ Khazar Sea Shipping Lines/South Shipping Line Iran/ Shipping Computer Services Company/ Valfajr 8thShipping Line Co. SSK: Foreign and domestic subsidiaries of IRISL.
• Oasis Freight Agencies: Joint venture between IRISL and Sharaf Shipping Company (UAE).
   

September 17, 2008 (Executive Order 13382)

Construction, Engineering, Industry and Technology

• Armament Industries Group: Manufactures weapons and weapons systems. Subsidiary of Iran’s Defense Industries Organization (DIO).
• Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA): Aircraft manufacturing and assembly company. Provides support to IRGC. Owned or controlled by Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). MODAFL was designated on October 25, 2007.
• Farasakht Industries: HESA subsidiary. Manufactures aerospace tools and designed aeronautical equipment.
• Iran Electronics Industries (IEI): Wholly-owned subsidiary of MODAFL. Largest manufacturer of electronic and communication equipment in Iran. Manufactures components for Iranian weapons systems.
• Iran Communications Industries: IEI subsidiary. Procurement company owned or controlled by MODAFL.
• Shiraz Electronics Industries: IEI subsidiary. Produces radars, electronic equipment for military.

October 22, 2008 (Executive Order 13882)

Banks

• Export Development Bank of Iran (EDBI): Provides financial services to Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).
• Banco Internacional de Desarrollo, C.A.: Venezuela-based bank owned or controlled by EDBI.
• EDBI Exchange Company/EDBI Stock Brokerage Company: Owned or controlled by EDBI.
   

December 17, 2008 (Executive Order 13382)

Banks

• ASSA Co. Ltd./ASSA Corporation: Controlled by Bank Melli. Established as shell companies for Bank Melli to disguise the bank’s 40 percent ownership interest in the 650 Fifth Avenue Company in New York City. ASSA Corp. the subsidiary of ASSA Co. Ltd.

March 3, 2009 (Executive Order 13382)

Banks

• Bank Melli Iran Investment Company/BMIIC International General Trading Co.: Owned or controlled by Bank Melli, designated October 25, 2007 for providing services to entities linked to Iran’s nuclear program.
• Bank Melli Printing and Publishing Co.: Owned or controlled by Bank Melli. Responsible for printing for domestic branches of Bank Melli.
• First Persian Equity Fund: Owned or controlled by Melli Investment Holding International (MEHR) and Bank Melli Iran Investment Company (BMIIC).
• MEHR Cayman Ltd.: Cayman Islands-based. Owned or controlled by MEHR and BMIIC.
• Melli Investment Holding International: Dubai-based. Wholly-owned by BMIIC.

Construction, Engineering, Industry and Technology (Executive Order 13382)

• Cement Investment and Development Co. (CIDCO): Owned or controlled by BMIIC. Founded to manage BMIIC’s holdings in cement industry in 2004.
• Mazandaran Cement Company: Owned or controlled by CIDCO.
• Mazandaran Textile Company: Owned or controlled by Bank Melli Iran Investment Company (BMIIC).
• Melli Agrochemical Company PJS: Pesticide company established in 1986. Owned or controlled by BMIIC.
• Shomal Cement Company: Owned or controlled by CIDCO.

April 7, 2009 (Executive Order 13382)

Construction, Engineering, Industry and Technology

• Amin Industrial Complex: Owned or controlled by Defense Industries Organization (DIO). DIO was designated on March 30, 2007.
• Kaveh Cutting Tools Company: Owned or controlled by DIO. Produces centrifuge components for Iran's nuclear centrifuge program.
• Khorasan Metallurgy Industries: Owned or controlled by DIO. Subsidiary of Ammunition Industries Group. Produces centrifuge components.
• Niru Battery Manufacturing Company: DIO subsidiary. Manufactures power units for Iranian missile systems.
• Shahid Sayyade Shirazi Industries: Produces large caliber items and cartridge cases. Produces components for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
• Yazd Metallurgy Industries: Ammunition Industries Group (AMIG) subsidiary owned or controlled by DIO.

Individuals

• Ali Divandari: Chairman of Bank Mellat.

November 5, 2009 (Executive Order 13382)

Banks

• First East Export bank, P.L.C.: Malaysian subsidiary of Bank Mellat. Bank Mellat was designated on October 25, 2007 for providing financial services for Iran's nuclear program.

 

February 10, 2010 (Executive Order 13382)

Construction, Engineering, Industry and Technology

• Fater Engineering Institute: Subsidiary of Khatam al-Anbya Construction Headquarters, the engineering arm of the IRGC.
• Imensazen Consultant Engineers Institute: Subsidiary of Khatam al-Anbya. Supports IRGC mining and engineering projects.
• Makin Institute: Subsidiary of Khatam al-Anbya. Supports IRGC mining and engineering projects.
• Rahab Institute: Subsidiary of Khatam al-Anbya. Supports IRGC mining and engineering projects.

Individuals

• General Rostam Qasemi: IRGC General. Commander of Khatam al-Anbya Construction Headquarters.

 

June 16, 2010 (Executive Order 13382)

Shipping

• Hafiz Darya Shipping Co.: Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) front company. Used for IRISL containerized shipping operations beginning in 2009.
• Safiran Payan Darya Shipping: IRISL front company. Used for IRISL bulk and cargo operations beginning in April 2009.
• Soroush Sarzamin Asatir Ship Management Co.: IRISL front company. Performs ship management for IRISL.
• Seibow Limited/Seibow Logistics Limited: Hong Kong-based IRISL front companies.

Military

• IRGC Air Force: In charge of deployment and operations of Iran’s ballistic missile program.
• IRGC Missile Command: In charge of deployment and operations of Iran’s ballistic missile program.
• Naval Defense Missile Industry Group: Owned or controlled by AIO.

Individuals

• Mohammad Ali Jafari: Commander-in-Chief, IRGC since September 2007.
• Javedan Mehr Toos: Procurement broker for Kalaye Electric Co. Kalaye was designated on February 16, 2007 for its affiliation with Iran’s nuclear program.
• Mohammad Reza Naqdi: Head of IRGC Basij Resistance Force since October 2009.
• Javad Karimi Sabet: Affiliated with the AEOI as head of Novin Energy Company.
• Ahmad Vahidi: Iran’s Minister of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics since September 2009.

Banks

• Post Bank: Provides financial services to Bank Sepah and acts on its behalf. Bank Sepah was designated on January 9, 2007 for providing services to Iran’s nuclear program.

Construction, Engineering, Industry and Technology

• Rah Sahel Institute: Owned or controlled by Khatam al-Anbya. Khatam al-Anbya was designated on October 25, 2007 for its affiliation with the IRGC. Rah Sahel has served as a contractor for Iran’s natural gas plant project in Tombak.
• Sepanir Oil and Gas Engineering Co.: Owned or controlled by Khatam al-Anbya. Sepanir is a major contractor for Iran’s petroleum industry.

 

July 1, 2010 (Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act)
This act amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, which requires sanctions to be imposed or waived for companies that are determined to have certain investments in Iran’s energy sector.

 

August 3, 2010 (Executive Order 13224)

Organizations Supporting Terrorist Organizations

• Iranian Committee for the Reconstruction of Lebanon: Channels Iranian material and financial support for Hezbollah.
• Imam Khomeini Relief Committee (IKRC) Lebanon Branch: Helped fund Hezbollah youth training camps to recruit future Hezbollah members and operatives. Hezbollah leaders acknowledge IKRC is funded by Iran.

Individuals

• Hushang Allahdad: IRGC-Qods Force financial officer. Oversees distribution of funds to Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
• Hossein Musavi: Qods Force General and Commander of Ansar Corps. Provides financial and material support to the Taliban.
• Hasan Mortezavi: Qods Force Colonel. Provides financial and material support to the Taliban.
• Mohammad Reza Zahedi: Qods Force commander in Lebanon. Acted as liaison to Hezbollah and Syrian intelligence services.
• Hessam Khoshnevis: Director of the Iranian Committee for the Reconstruction of Lebanon. Provides financial, material, and technological support to Hezbollah.
• Ali Zuraik: Director of the Imam Khomeini Relief Committee Lebanon branch. Provides financial and material support to Hezbollah.
• Razi Musavi: Syria-based Iranian official. Provides financial and material support to Hezbollah.

September 29, 2010 (Executive Order 13553)

Human Rights Abuses: Individuals

• Mohammad Ali Jafari: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (previous designated under E.O. 13382).
• Sadeq Mahsouli: Minister of Welfare and Social Security, former Minister of the Interior and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for Law Enforcement.
• Qolam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei: Prosecutor-General of Iran, former Minister of Intelligence.
• Saeed Mortazavi: Head of Iranian Anti-Smuggling Task Force, former Prosecutor-General of Iran.
• Heydar Moslehi: Minister of Intelligence.
• Mostafa Mohammad Najjar: Minister of the Interior and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces for Law Enforcement.
• Ahmad-Reza Radan: Deputy Chief of the National Police.
• Hossein Taeb: Deputy Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander for Intelligence, former Commander of the Basij Forces.

 

December 21, 2010

Nuclear

• Bonyad Taavon Sepah: Linked to IRGC.
• Ansar Bank: Linked to IRGC.
• Mehr Bank: Linked to IRGC.
• Moallem Insurance Company: Provided marine insurance to IRISL vessels.

Terrorism (Executive Order 13224)

• Liner Transport Kish: Linked to Hezbollah and the IRGC.

 

February 17, 2011 (Executive Order 13382)

Banks

• Bank Refah: Linked to MODAFL and ran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company

May 23, 2011 (Executive Order 13574)
This executive order creates further prohibitions of financial transactions with sanctioned individuals under the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, as amended by CISADA.

 

November 21, 2011 (Executive Order 13590)
This executive order gives the Secretary of State authority to impose sanctions on persons that knowingly engage in a number of activities in Iran’s energy and petrochemical sectors.

Individuals

• Javad Rahiqi: Linked to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).
• Neka Novin: Linked to the AEOI.
• Parto Sanat: Linked to the AEOI.
• Paya Partov: Linked to the AEOI.

Nuclear

• Nuclear Reactors Fuel Company: Played a role in Iran’s nuclear procurement networks.
• Noor Afzar Gostar Company: Played a role in Iran’s nuclear procurement networks.
• Fulmen Group: Played a role in Iran’s nuclear procurement networks.
• Yasa Pact: Played a role in Iran’s nuclear procurement networks.
• Modern Industries Technique Company: Linked to the AEOI.
• Simatic: Linked to the AEOI.
• Iran Centrifuge Technology Company: Linked to the AEOI.

December 31, 2011 (Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012)

This act calls for sanctions on foreign financial institutions that knowingly conduct or facilitate significant financial transactions with Iran. But it also allows the U.S. government to issue 180-day waivers for countries that significantly reduce their Iranian imports. Waivers can be extended for further reductions.

 

February 6, 2012 (Executive Order 13599)

Banks

• Government of Iran (and all its agencies).
• Central Bank of Iran (and all other financial institutions).

April 23, 2012 (Executive Order 13606)

Human Rights Abuses: Entities

• Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps: The IRGC’s Guard Cyber Defense Command includes a special department called the Center for Inspecting Organized Crimes, which ensures the regime’s cyber security.
• Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security: Monitored opposition activities and responsible for beatings, sexual abuse, prolonged interrogations, and coerced confessions of prisoners following the June 2009 presidential elections in Iran.
• Law Enforcement Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran: Arrested many bloggers and activists through advanced monitoring systems after the 2009 post-election protests.
• Datak Telecom: Iranian Internet service provider. Provided information to the government on individuals trying to circumvent official Internet censorship and facilitated surveillance of emails.

 

May 1, 2012 (Executive Order 13608)

This executive order increases penalties on Iranian-sanction evaders, including restrictions on certain transactions and visa bans to the United States.

 

June 28, 2012 (Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012)
This act allows the president to sanction foreign banks that conduct financial transactions for Iranian oil and petroleum products.

 

July 12, 2012 (Executive Order 13382 and Executive Order 13599)

Defense and Aerospace (Executive Order 13382)

• Electronic Components Industries Co.: Linked to Iran Electronics Industries.
• Information Systems Iran: Linked to Iran Electronics Industries.
• Advanced Information and Communication Technology Center: Has provided support to Information Systems Iran.
• Digital Media Lab and Value-Added Services Laboratory: Linked to Advanced Information and Communication Technology Center.
• Ministry of Defense Logistics Export: Linked to the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.
• International General Resourcing FZE: Provided material support for the Aerospace Industries Organization.
• Malek Ashtar University: Owned or controlled by the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.

Shipping (Executive Order 13382)

• Good Luck Shipping: Located in the UAE, but acts on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL). Good Luck Shipping was established to replace Great Oceans Shipping Services, which was a designated entity by Executive Order 13382.
• 57 vessels affiliated with IRISL and 7 vessels as blocked property in which IRISL has an interest.

Nuclear (Executive Order 13382)

• Pentane Chemistry Industries: Linked to the development of Iran’s weapons of mass destruction programs.
• Center for Innovation and Technology Cooperation: Facilitates procurement and technology transfer from the science community to the military services.

Individuals (Executive Order 13382)

• Hamid Reza Rabiee: Founder and current director of the Advanced Information and Communication Technology Center.
• Daniel Frosch: Provided material support for the Aerospace Industries Organization and is the owner of International General Resourcing FZE.
• Ali Fadavi: IRGC Navy Commander.
• Hossein Tanideh: A procurement agent for Iran’s nuclear program through late 2011.

Energy (Executive Order 13599)

• Suisse Intertrade Company SA: alleged front company for Iran's national oil company.
• Hong Kong Intertrade Company: alleged front company for Iran's national oil company.
• Noor Energy (Malaysia) Ltd.: alleged front company for Iran's national oil company
• Petro Energy Intertrade Company: alleged front company for Iran's national oil company.
• National Iranian Tanker Company: alleged front company for Iran's national oil company.

Preventing the Circumvention of International Sanctions (Executive Order 13599)

• Exposing front companies involved in Iran’s oil trade.
• 20 Iranian financial institutions.
• 58 National Iranian Tanker Company Vessels and 27 of its affiliated entities.

 

February 6, 2013 (Executive Order 13628)

Cyber

• Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB): Denied free flow of information to or from the Iranian people.
• Ezzatollah Zarghami: Director of IRIB.
• Iranian Cyber Police: Denied free flow of information to or from the Iranian people.
• Communications Regulatory Authority: Denied free flow of information to or from the Iranian people.
• Iran Electronics Industries: Denied free flow of information to or from the Iranian people. Offered services related to jamming, monitoring, and eavesdropping.

 

March 14, 2013 (Executive Order 13599)

Individual

Dimitris Cambis: Greek businessman who evaded sanctions through multiple shipping companies. President of Impire Shipping.

Entities

• Central Insurance of Iran: For providing insurance or reinsurance to the National Iranian Tanker Company.
• Asia Energy General Trading: Dubai
• Kish Protection & Indemnity: Iranian
• Polinex General Trading LLC: Dubai
• Sima General Trading Co FZE: Dubai
• Synergy General Trading FZE: UAE

Shipping

• Blue tanker Shipping SA: Greek
• Garbin Navigation LTD: Greek
• Hercules International Ship: Greek
• Hermis Shipping SA
• Impire Shipping Company
• Jupiter Seaways Shipping
• Koning Marine Corp
• Libra Shipping
• Monsoon Shipping LTD

Vessels

• Glaros Crude Oil Tanker: Liberia flag
• Leycothea Crude Oil Tanker: Panama flag
• Nereyda Crude Oil Tanker: Panama flag
• Ocean Nympth Crude Oil Tanker: Panama flag
• Ocean Performer Crude Oil Tanker: Liberia flag
• Seagull Crude Oil Tanker: Liberia flag
• Ulysses 1 Crude Oil Tanker: Liberia flag
• Zap Crude Oil Tanker: Liberia flag

Visa Bans

• Dimitris Cambis: President of Impire Shipping
• Mohammad Reza Mohammadi Banaei: Managing Director of Kish Protection & Indemnity
• Seyed Mohammad Karimi – President of Central Insurance of Iran
• Rahim Mosaddegh – Vice President of Central Insurance of Iran
• Mina Sadigh Noohi – Vice President of Central Insurance of Iran
• Esmaeil Mahdavi Nia – Vice President of Central Insurance of Iran
• Seyed Morteza Hasani Aghda – Superintendent of Central Insurance of Iran

 

April 11, 2013 (Executive Order 13882)

Individuals

• Babak Morteza Zanjani
• Madhat Mursi Al-Sayyid Umar: Deletion of Egyptian individual

Entities

• Kont Kosmetik: Turkey

Banks

• First Islamic Investment Bank LTD: Malaysia
• Sorinet Commercial Trust Bankers: Dubai and Kish Island, Iran

Oil

• International Safe Oil: Malaysia

 

April 30, 2013 (Counter Narcotics, Counter Terrorism, and Iranian Financial Sanctions Regulations Removals)

Individuals deleted from Specially Designated Nationals List

• Luz Marina Moreno Bernal: Colombia
• Jose Ricuarte Diaz Herrera
• Pedro Nicholas Arboleda Arroyave
• Herbeth Gonazlo Rueda Fajardo
• Hernan Cueca Villaraga
• Maria Consuelo Duque Martinez
• Tiberio Fernandez Luna
• Jose de Jesus Naizaque Puentes
• Luis Carlos Ramirez Suarez
• Rosalba Vega
• Alexander Celis Perez
• Diego Fernando Duque Martinez
• Norma Lucero Gamez Cifuentes
• Stella Perez Gomez
• Rosa Elena Pacheco
• Hessam Khoshnevis

Entities deleted from Specially Designated Nationals List

• Promotora Hotelera LTDA: Colombia
• Comercial Promoteles

 

May 9, 2013

Nuclear (Executive Order 13382)

Entities

• Aluminat Production and Industrial Company
• Pars Amayesh Sanaat Kish
• Pishro Systems Research Company

Individuals

• Parviz Khaki

Bank (Executive Order 13882)

• Iranian-Venezuelan Bi-National Bank

Shipping (Executive Order 13559)

• Sambouk Shipping FZC: UAE

Vessels (Executive Order 13559)

• Atlantis Crude Oil Tanker: Tanzania flag
• Badr: Iran flag
• Demos Crude Oil Tanker: Tanzania flag
• Infinity Crude Oil Tanker: Tanzania flag
• Justice Crude Oil Tanker: None/Unidentified flag
• Skyline Crude Oil Tanker: Tanzania flag
• Sunrise LPG Tanker: None/Unidentified flag
• Younes Platform Supply Ship: Iran flag

 

May 15, 2013 (Executive Order 13882)

Nuclear

• Al Fida International General Trading: Dubai
• Al Hilal Exchange: Dubai

 

May 17, 2013 

Bank

• Elaf Islamic Bank, Iraq: removed

 

May 23, 2013
Individuals

• Masoud Bahadori
• Farzad Bazargan
• Ahmad Ghalebani
• Seifollah Jashnsaz
• Ali Mahdavi
• Reza Mozaffarinia
• Mahmoud Nikousokhan
• Farhad Ali Parvaresh
• Hashem Pouransari
• Hossein Nosratollah Vaziri
• Bahareh Mirza Hossein Yazdi

Entities

• Aban Air
• Andisheh Zolal
• DFS Worldwide FZCO (multiple locations)
• Energy Global International: Dubai
• Everex Global Carrier and Cargo: Iran, Dubai, UK
• Global Sea Line Co LTD: Singapore
• Petro Green: Malaysia
• Zolal Iran Company

 

May 30, 2013

Human Rights (Executive Order 13553)

• Asghar Mir-Hejazi: Security Deputy of Supreme Leader, member of the Leader’s Planning Chamber, Head of Security of Supreme Leader’s Office, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Supreme Leader’s Office

Cyber (Executive Order 13628)

• Committee to Determine Instances of Criminal Content
• Ofogh Saberin Engineering Development Company

 

May 31, 2013

Individuals

• Hamid Arabnejad
• Mihael Karner (Slovenia)
• Lidia Kim (Krygyzstan)
• Rodrigue Elias Merhej (Lebanon)
• Haji Kotwal Noorzai (Pakistan or Afghanistan, unclear)
• Luis Fernando Sanchez Arellano (Mexico)

Entities (Executive Order 13608)

Entities (Executive Order 13382)

Entities (Executive Order 13224)

Oil/Nuclear (Executive Order 13599)

• Bandar Imam Petrochemical Company
• Bou Ali Sina Petrochemical Company
• Jam Petrochemical Company
• Mobin Petrochemical Company
• Nouri Petrochemical Company
• Pars Petrochemical Company
• Shahid Tondgooyan Petrochemical Company
• Shazand Petrochemical Company
• Tabriz Petrochemical Company
• Ferland Company Limited (Cyprus, Ukraine)
• Krygyz Trans Avia (Krygyzstan)
• Los Caballeros Templarios (Mexico)
• Los Cachiros (Honduras)
• Los Urabenos (Colombia, Honduras, Panama)
• Niksima Food and Beverage JLT (Dubai)
• Pryvatne Aktsionerne Tovarystvo Aviakompaniya Bukovyna (Ukraine)
• Sirjanco Trading LLC (Dubai)
• Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines

Aircraft

• Pryvatne Aktsionerne Tovarystvo Aviakompaniya Bukovyna (Ukraine)
• UR-BHJ
• UR-BXN
• UR-CIX
• UR-CIY
• UR-CJA
• UR-CJK
• Unknown/Unidentified Company
• UR-CJW
• Mahan Air
• UR-CKF
• UR-CKJ
• UR-CKY
• Ukrainian-Mediterranean Airlines
• UC-CKX
• UR-CKZ

 

June 3, 2013: (Executive Order 13645)

 The U.S. Treasury Department imposes sanctions on Iran’s currency, the rial.

 

June 4, 2013

Entities

• The Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order: An international financial network consisting of 37 Iranian and other international companies.

 

December 12, 2013 (Executive Order 13645)

Individuals

• Vitaly Sokolenko- the General Manager of Ferland Company Limited

Oil:

• Mid Oil Asia
• Singa Tankers
• Siqiriya Maritime
• Ferland Company Limited

(Executive Order 13382)

Individuals

• Negin Parto Khavar
• Iradj Mohammadi
• Mahmoud Mahammadi Dayeni
• Neka Novin Aliases
• Reza Amidi
• Fan Pardazan
• Ertebat Gostar Novin

Entities

• Eyvaz Technic Manufacturing Company
• The Exploration and Nuclear Raw Materials Production Company
• Maro Sanat Company
• Navid Composite Material Company
• Qods Aviation Industries
• Iran Avaiation Industruis Organization

 

August 29, 2014 (WMD-related actions under Executive Order 13382)

State Department

Entities

• Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research
• Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute
• Jahan Tech Rooyan Pars
• Mandegar Baspar Kimiya Company

 

Treasury Department

Individuals

• Muhammad Javad Imanirad
• Arman Imanirad
• Sazeh Morakab
• Ali Gholami
• Marzieh Bozorg

 

Entities

• Naferiti Shipping
• Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group Alias: Sahand Aluminum Parts Industrial Company
• Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group Alias: Ardalan Machineries Company

 

(Energy-related designations under Executive Order 13645)

Individuals

• Abdelhak Kaddouri- Financial chief of U.S.-sanctioned NICO Sarl and owner and manager of U.S.-sanctioned Swiss Management Services Sarl.
• Muzzafer Polat- Is the founder, director general, and manager of Petro Royal FZE.
• Seyedeh Hanieh Seyed Nasser Mohammad Seyyedi- The daughter of previously designated Seyed Seyyedi, is Faylaca Petroleum’s Managing Director

Entities

• Faylaca Petroleum
• Lissome Marine Services LLC

(Sanctions for Material Support to the Central Bank of Iran or the Purchase or Acquisition of U.S. Dollar Bank Notes by the Government of Iran under Executive Order 13622)

Banks:

• Asia Bank

(Identification of additional Iranian banks under Executive Order 13599)

Banks:

• Khavarmianeh Bank
• Ghavamin Bank
• Gharzolhasaneh Resalat Bank
• Kish International Bank
• Kafolatbank         
• (New and updated counter-terrorism-related designations under Executive Order 13224)

Individuals:

• Sayyed Jabar Hosseini

Airlines:

• Meraj Air
• Caspian Air
• Yas Air Alias: Pouya Air

 

February 6, 2014 (Executive Order 13608)

Individuals:

• Pourya Nayebi
• Houshang Hosseinpour
• Houshang Farsoudeh

(Executive Order 13382)

Individuals:

• Ali Canko
• Ulrich Wippermann       

Entities:

• Tiva Sanat Group
•  Advance Electrical
• Industrial Technologies
• Pere Punti
• DF Deutsche Forfait Aktiengellschaft
• DF Deutsche Forfait Americas Inc.

(Executive Order 13224)

Entities:

• Blue Sky Aviation Co FZE
• Avia Trust FZE
• Hamidreza Malekouti Pour
• Pejman Mahmood Kosarayanifard
• Gholamreza Mahmoudi

(Executive Order 13224)

Individuals:

• Sayyed Kamal Musavi
• Alireza Hemmati
• Akbar Seyed Alhosseini
• Mahmud Rashidi

Entities:

• Olimzhon Adkhamovich Sadikov- Iran-based Islamic Jihad Union facilitator Olimzhon Adkhamovich Sadikov (also known as Jafar al-Uzbeki and Jafar Muidinov)

 

April 29, 2014 (Executive Order 13382)

Entities:

• Al Aqili Group LLC
• Sinotech Industry Co., Ltd.
• MTTO Industry and Trade Limited
• Success Move Ltd.      
• Sinotech Dalian Carbon and Graphite Manufacturing Corporation
• Dalian Zhongchuang Char-White Co., Ltd.
• Karat Industry Co., Ltd.
• Tereal Industry and Trade Limited
• Dalian Zenghua Trading Co., Ltd.

Individuals: (Executive Order 13645)

• Anwar Kamal Nizami
• Mohamed Saeed Al Aqili

 

January 16, 2016

President Obama issued an executive order lifting sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. Implementation Day was triggered by the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s certification that Iran has fulfilled its obligations under the nuclear agreement. As a result, Iran is to receive relief from nuclear-related U.S., E.U. and U.N. sanctions. U.S. sanctions on Iran for support for terrorism, human rights abuses, and missile activities, however, will remain in effect.

December 1, 2016

President Obama allowed the Iran Sanctions Extension Act without his signature after it passed 99-0 in the Senate. Senate Republicans initially sought a wider-ranging bill to sanction Iran recent ballistic missile tests. Democrats countered that they would only support an extension of the law originally passed in 1996. Supporters of the legislation from both parties said the extension would allow Washington to quickly re-instate sanctions if Tehran violates the 2015 nuclear deal.

February 3, 2017

The U.S. Treasury announced new sanctions on 13 individuals and 12 entities for supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program and its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). “Iran’s continued support for terrorism and development of its ballistic missile program poses a threat to the region, to our partners worldwide, and to the United States,” said John E. Smith, acting director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The new sanctions come less than a week after Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile. Washington condemned the launch and officially put Iran “on notice” on February 1. National Security Advisor Flynn added on February 3 that the “international community has been too tolerant of Iran’s bad behavior.”

March 17, 2017

The U.S. State Department sanctioned two Bahrainis with ties to Iran for supporting terrorism. One was affiliated with the al Ashtar Brigades, which has received funding and support from the Iranian government and carried out attacks in Bahrain. Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi, however, dismissed the allegations as political. In the wake of the 2011 Arab Spring protests, Shiite Bahrainis held mass demonstrations against the Sunni-dominated government.

March 21, 2017

The United States imposed sanctions on 11 entities and individuals for “transfers of sensitive items to Iran’s ballistic missile program.” Washington considers Tehran’s missile program a threat to regional security. Since Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile in January 2017, the U.S. Treasury has also sanctioned individuals and entities for supporting the program. The latest measures were part of a wider move under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act. 

May 17, 2017

The Treasury Department blacklisted three individuals and four entities, including a China-based network, for supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program. The Treasury Department worked in conjunction with the State Department, which released a semi-annual report to Congress on Iran’s human rights abuses. On the same day, President Trump clarified that the United States would not pursue efforts to reduce Iran’s sale of crude oil, consistent with U.S. commitments as part of the nuclear deal. 

July 18, 2017

The State Department announced new sanctions on “18 entities and individuals supporting Iran’s ballistic missile program and for supporting Iran’s military procurement or Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as an Iran-based transnational criminal organization and associated persons.” Additionally, the Treasury Department “designated seven entities and five individuals for engaging in activities in support of Iran’s military procurement or the IRGC, as well as an Iran-based transnational criminal organization and three associated persons.”

August 2, 2017

President Trump signed a bipartisan bill imposing sanctions on Iran and Russia. It also increased the President’s ability to sanction individuals connected to North Korea. Congress had voted overwhelmingly to pass the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which includes a provision known as the Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017. The bill directs the President to impose sanctions against Iran’s ballistic missile or WMD programs, the sale or transfer to Iran of military equipment or related technical or financial assistance, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The bill passed through the House of Representatives on July 25 with a 419-3 vote. On July 27, the Senate voted 97-2 in favor of the bill.

September 14, 2017

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned 11 entities and individuals for supporting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps or networks responsible for cyber-attacks against the United States. “These sanctions target an Iranian company providing material support to the IRGC’s ballistic missile program, airlines that support the transport of fighters and weapons into Syria, and hackers who execute cyber-attacks on American financial institutions,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. The move by the Treasury Department came on the same day that the administration extended sanctions waivers for Iran as part of the nuclear deal.

November 20, 2017

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned a wide network of individuals of entities that were helping Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Qods Force “counterfeit currency to support its destabilizing activities.” The U.S. government has accused the Qods Force of meddling in the affairs of Iran’s neighbors and supporting terror. 

January 4, 2018

The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned five Iran-based entities for ties to the country's ballistic missile program. The United States said the organizations were owned or controlled by an industrial firm responsible for developing and producing Iran's solid-propellant ballistic missiles. The sanctions froze any U.S. property the entities hold and prohibited Americans from engaging with them.

January 12, 2018

The United States took an increasingly hard stance on Tehran’s human rights violations and its controversial missile program. The decision followed widespread protests in Iran over economic hardships in which more than 3,000 were arrested and at least 22 were killed. In an unprecedented move, the Treasury sanctioned the head of Iran’s judiciary, Sadegh Amoli Larijani, along with 13 others in connection with human rights abuses and censorship or weapons proliferation. In a briefing, a senior administration official said that the designations go to the top of the regime and are intended to send a strong message that the United States will not tolerate Iran’s continued violations of the rights of its citizens.

March 23, 2018

The United States issued sanctions and criminal indictments against an Iranian hacker network that targeted hundreds of U.S. and foreign universities, dozens of U.S. companies and government agencies and the United Nations. The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned one Iranian entity and 10 individuals for theft of intellectual property and data. The Department of Justice indicted nine Iranians for conducting a massive cyber theft campaign on behalf of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"The IRGC outsourced cyber intrusions to The Mabna Institute, a hacker network that infiltrated hundreds of universities to steal sensitive data," said Treasury Under Secretary Sigal Mandelker. “We will not tolerate the theft of U.S. intellectual property, or intrusions into our research institutions and universities." It is one of the largest state-sponsored hacking campaigns ever prosecuted by the Justice Department. 

May 10, 2018

The United States and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) moved to disrupt an extensive currency exchange network that helped fund Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF), the elite unit responsible for operations abroad. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned nine Iranian individuals and entities. “The Treasury Department thanks the UAE for its close collaboration on this matter. Countries around the world must be vigilant against Iran’s efforts to exploit their financial institutions to exchange currency and fund the nefarious actors of the IRGC-QF and the world’s largest state sponsor of terror,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. 

May 15, 2018

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned four individuals and one bank for moving millions of dollars on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to the Lebanese militia and political movement Hizballah. One of the individuals was Valiollah Seif, Iran’s Central Bank Governor. Seif “covertly funneled millions of dollars on behalf of the IRGC-QF through Iraq-based al-Bilad Islamic Bank to enrich and support the violent and radical agenda of Hizballah,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. The bank and individuals were branded Specially Designated Global Terrorists. Seif has faced criticism from Iranian lawmakers, including calls for his dismissal, for not preventing the devaluation of the rial in April 2018. 

May 16, 2018

The U.S. Treasury Department partnered with seven member states of the Terrorist Financing and Targeting Center to designate Hezbollah senior leadership, including Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah. “Under the dictates of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), Secretary General and head of the Shura Council Hasan Nasrallah is prolonging the human suffering in Syria, fueling the violence in Iraq and Yemen, putting the Lebanese state and the Lebanese people at risk, and destabilizing the entire region," said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. 

May 17, 2018

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Hezbollah's financing network, its third action in a week against individuals with ties to Iran and its Central Bank. The Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Hezbollah financier Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi and his Iranian representative Abdallah Safi al Din. “This action highlights the duplicity and disgraceful conduct of Hizballah and its Iranian backers.  Despite Nasrallah’s claims, Hizballah uses financiers like Bazzi who are tied to drug dealers, and who launder money to fund terrorism,” Secretary Mnuchin said.

May 22, 2018

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned five Iranians for providing ballistic missile-related technical expertise or transferring weapons to the Houthis, a Zaydi Shiite movement that has been fighting Yemen’s Sunni-majority government since 2004. The five individuals were associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force, an elite unit responsible for operations outside of Iran.

May 24, 2018

The Treasury Department designated nine individuals and entities that were procuring "export-controlled, U.S.-origin goods for sanctioned Iranian airlines." The sanctions also targeted procurement networks based in Turkey. "The deceptive practices these airlines employ to illegally obtain services and U.S. goods is yet another example of the duplicitous ways in which the Iranian regime has operated," said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. This was the second set of sanctions issued since Secretary of State Pompeo threatend to apply severe economic and military pressure on Tehran if it did not make sweeping changes in its foreign and nuclear policies. 

May 30, 2018

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned three Iranian entities and six individuals for committing human rights abuses and censorship activities on behalf of Iran's government. “Iran not only exports terrorism and instability across the world, it routinely violates the rights of its own people," said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. "The Iranian regime diverts national resources that should belong to the people to fund a massive and expensive censorship apparatus and suppress free speech.” 

June 27, 2018

The U.S. Treasury issued updated guidance on Iran sanctions related to the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) revoked two general licenses, including the one that had allowed the export of commercial passenger aircraft and related parts and services to Iran. 

July 9, 2018

The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Mahan Travel and Tourism Sdn Bhd, a Malaysia-based sales agent that worked for, or on behalf of, Mahan Air, a blacklisted airline. “Mahan Air is the airline of choice for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, facilitating its support to terrorism across the Middle East,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “Our action against an independent company providing General Sales Agent services to Mahan makes clear to all in the aviation industry that they urgently need to sever all ties and distance themselves immediately from this airline.” 

July 10, 2018

The U.S. State Department designated al Ashtar Brigades (AAB), an Iran-backed group committed to overthrowing Bahrain’s government, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. As a result, the all of AAB’s property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction were blocked. “From Africa, Europe, North America, Asia, and the Gulf, Iran is using terrorist proxies to extend its malevolent influence and upend international peace and stability. Al-Ashtar is yet another in a long line of Iranian sponsored terrorists who kill on behalf of a corrupt regime. Today’s designation serves notice that the United States sees plainly what Iran is trying to do to Bahrain through its proxy, the terrorist group Al-Ashtar,” said Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan A. Sales. 

August 6, 2018

President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order reimposing sanctions on Iran. The move was consistent with his May 8 announcement of the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal and the reimposition of nuclear-related sanctions. “These actions include reimposing sanctions on Iran’s automotive sector and on its trade in gold and precious metals, as well as sanctions related to the Iranian rial,” Trump said. He urged all nations “to make clear that the Iranian regime faces a choice: either change its threatening, destabilizing behavior and reintegrate with the global economy, or continue down a path of economic isolation.” The measures will take effect on August 7, while the rest of the sanctions will be reimposed on November 5. The remaining sanctions will be more biting since they target Iran’s lucrative oil exports and transactions by foreign financial institutions with the Central Bank of Iran. 

President Trump also emphasized his willingness to negotiate a new deal with Iran. “As we continue applying maximum economic pressure on the Iranian regime, I remain open to reaching a more comprehensive deal that addresses the full range of the regime’s malign activities, including its ballistic missile program and its support for terrorism,” he said. 

September 14, 2018

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Thailand-based My Aviation Company Limited for acting for or on behalf of Mahan Air, an Iranian airline previously blacklisted for support for terrorism. “Treasury is cutting off yet another service provider acting on behalf of Mahan Air, a sanctioned airline that transports soldiers and supplies to [Syrian President Bashar] Assad and fuels terrorist activities across the region,” said Secretary of the Treasury Steven T. Mnuchin. Mahan Air was designated in October 2011 for providing financial, material, or technological support for or to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force, which is responsible for operations abroad. 

October 16, 2018

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned a network of 20 businesses for providing financial support to the Basij Resistance Force, a paramilitary under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). “The Bonyad Taavon Basij network is an example of how the IRGC and Iranian military forces have expanded their economic involvement in major industries, and infiltrated seemingly legitimate businesses to fund terrorism and other malign activities. This vast network provides financial infrastructure to the Basij’s efforts to recruit, train, and indoctrinate child soldiers who are coerced into combat under the IRGC’s direction,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. 

October 23, 2018

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned nine individuals associated with the Taliban, including Iranian supporters. The United States acted in partnership with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, the other member states of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC), established in mid-2017. “The TFTC has again demonstrated its tremendous value to international security by disrupting and exposing key Taliban members who are involved in suicide attacks, and other lethal activities.  We are also targeting key Iranian sponsors providing financial and material support to the Taliban,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “Iran’s provision of military training, financing, and weapons to the Taliban is yet another example of Tehran’s blatant regional meddling and support for terrorism,” he added.  

November 5, 2018

The U.S. Treasury reimposed sanctions on Iran that had been lifted or waived in January 2016 under the nuclear deal. The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned more than 700 individuals, entities, aircraft, and vessels — its largest ever single-day action targeting the Iranian regime. The targets included banks, including Iran’s Central Bank, the Iranian oil company, and many other key economic actors. “Treasury’s imposition of unprecedented financial pressure on Iran should make clear to the Iranian regime that they will face mounting financial isolation and economic stagnation until they fundamentally change their destabilizing behavior. Iran’s leaders must cease support for terrorism, stop proliferating ballistic missiles, end destructive regional activities, and abandon their nuclear ambitions immediately if they seek a path to sanctions relief,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. 

November 13, 2018

The U.S. State Department offered rewards of up to five million dollars each for information on one Hamas leader and two Lebanese Hezbollah leaders. Both groups have received weapons, training and funding from Tehran for years. Hamas leader Salih al Aruri “is currently living freely in Lebanon, where he is reportedly is working with the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force,” said Assistant Secretary of Diplomatic Security Mike Evanoff at a press briefing. The first wanted Hezbollah member, Khalil Yusif Mahmoud Harb, is an advisor to the group’s secretary general, Hassan Nasrallah. The second member, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, is a key military leader who commanded Hezbollah special forces in both Syria and Yemen. “The actions we’re announcing today are one more step in our campaign to build the toughest sanctions regime ever imposed on Iran. More sanctions are coming, and they will continue until Iran and its proxies change their behavior,” said Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan Sales.

On the same day, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned four Hezbollah-affiliated individuals who coordinate the group's activities in Iraq. ““Treasury’s concerted actions aim to deny Hezbollah’s clandestine attempts to exploit Iraq to launder funds, procure weapons, train fighters, and collect intelligence as a proxy for Iran,” said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. 

November 20, 2018

The U.S Treasury sanctioned six individuals and three entities for providing millions of barrels of oil to the Syrian regime. The Office of Foreign Assets Control said that Russia facilitated the delivery of Iranian oil to Syria. The Assad government then transferred money to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force, which forwarded funds to Lebanese Hezbollah and Hamas. “Central Bank of Iran officials continue to exploit the international financial system, and in this case even used a company whose name suggests a trade in humanitarian goods as a tool to facilitate financial transfers supporting this oil scheme,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “Today’s sanctions, in conjunction with economic, diplomatic, and other strategic initiatives, are part of the U.S. government’s long-term maximum pressure campaign to counter the Iranian regime’s influence and destabilizing regional activities, to deny it the funds it uses to bankroll terrorist and militant proxies, and to secure the removal of all Iranian forces from Syria,” the State Department added.

March 5, 2019

On March 5, the U.S. State Department and Treasury sanctioned Harakat al Nujaba, an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, and its leader, Akram Abbas al Kabi. The State Department designated them as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. “These designations demonstrate the United States’ unwavering commitment to isolate and deny funding to the Iranian regime’s terrorist proxies,” said the State Department.

March 22, 2019

The U.S. State Department and Treasury sanctioned 31 Iranian entities and individuals linked to the Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, also known by its Persian acronym, SPND. The organization was founded by Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who allegedly headed Iran’s pre-2004 nuclear weapons program, in 2011. “SPND has employed as many as 1500 individuals – including numerous researchers associated with the Amad plan, who continue to carry out dual-use research and development activities, of which aspects are potentially useful for nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems,” according to the State Department. The designations serve as a “warning to individuals and entities considering dealing with the Iranian regime’s defense sector in general, and SPND in particular: by engaging in sanctionable activity with designated Iranian persons, you risk professional, personal, and financial isolation,” said the Treasury.

March 26, 2016

The United States sanctioned a network of front companies that evaded U.S. sanctions to provide support to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s Ministry and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). “With this action today we are increasing our pressure even further on the Iranian regime,” said the Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook. 

The Treasury Department designated 25 individuals and entities, including a network of companies based in Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, for transferring over a billion dollars and euros to the IRGC and MODAFL as well as procuring millions of dollars’ worth of vehicles for MODAFL. “The IRGC, MODAFL, and other malign actors in Iran continue to exploit the international financial system to evade sanctions, while the regime funds terrorism and other destabilizing activities across the region,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.

April 8, 2019

The United States announced the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), effective April 15. The IRGC is Iran’s most powerful military and security organization as well as a key economic player. “This unprecedented step, led by the Department of State, recognizes the reality that Iran is not only a State Sponsor of Terrorism, but that the IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft,” said President Donald Trump. He noted that it was the “first time that the United States has ever named part of another government as a FTO.” In response, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council designated U.S. Central Command forces as terrorists and the U.S. as a “sponsor of terrorism.”

April 22, 2019

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the United States will stop providing sanctions exemptions to countries that import Iranian oil. “We will continue to apply maximum pressure on the Iranian regime until its leaders change their destructive behavior, respect the rights of the Iranian people, and return to the negotiating table,” said Pompeo. He noted that oil sales account for up to 40 percent of Iran’s revenue. The Trump administration's stated goal is to bring Iranian exports down to zero. 

Eight countries received exemptions in November, which will expire on May 2. Three countries – Greece, Italy and Taiwan – have already reduced their Iranian imports to zero. China, India, Turkey, Japan, and South Korea will need to do the same or risk running afoul of U.S. sanctions. 

May 3, 2019

The State Department outlined a new list of sanctionable actions related to Iran’s nuclear program. Washington warned that “assistance to expand Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant beyond the existing reactor unit will be exposed to sanctions.” Additionally, “any involvement in transferring enriched uranium out of Iran in exchange for natural uranium will now be exposed to sanctions.” The restrictions are the latest expression of the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure campaign” to change Iran’s behavior and persuade it to negotiate a new agreement that would address its nuclear and missile programs, human rights abuses, support for terror, and other issues.

The United States, however, will permit certain ongoing nonproliferation projects to continue “for a renewable duration of 90 days.” For example, the Arak reactor is currently being redesigned to ensure that it cannot produce weapons-grade plutonium. 

May 8, 2019

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to impose sanctions on Iran’s iron, steel, aluminum, and copper sectors. The White House statement noted that those metals are “the regime’s largest non-petroleum-related sources of export revenue,” some 10 percent. The metals and mining industry has historically been an important source of employment as well. As of January 2018, some 620,000 people were working in the sector, according to the Boston-based consultancy Arthur D. Little. In May 2019, the Associated Press published a breakdown of the industry: steel mills employ some 50,000 workers, steel exports have been on the rise for more than five years, and metal-related industries employ about 2.2 million workers or 10 percent of the workforce, according to a report by Iran’s parliament. Trump warned that “Tehran can expect further actions unless it fundamentally alters its conduct.”

June 7, 2019

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Iran’s largest petrochemical holding group, Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (PGPIC), for supporting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The U.S. had designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization on April 8. The Office of Foreign Assets Control said that PGPIC provided financial support to Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters, the engineering arm of the IRGC. The PGPIC conglomerate manages 40 percent of Iran’s petrochemical production capacity and accounts for 50 percent of Iran’s total petrochemical exports. The Treasury also sanctioned 39 of PGPIC’s subsidiary petrochemical companies and foreign-based sales agents. “By targeting this network we intend to deny funding to key elements of Iran’s petrochemical sector that provide support to the IRGC,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “This action is a warning that we will continue to target holding groups and companies in the petrochemical sector and elsewhere that provide financial lifelines to the IRGC.” 

June 12, 2019

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned an Iraqi company, South Wealth Resources Company (SWRC), for trafficking hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of weapons to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Qods Force. The United States had designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization on April 8. The Qods Force is an elite branch of the IRGC responsible for foreign operations and often serves as the link between proxy forces and Tehran.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control said that SWRC and two of its Iraqi associates, who were also sanctioned, had covertly facilitated Qods Force access to the Iraqi financial system to evade U.S. sanctions. The Treasury said the company’s smuggling network also benefited previously-sanctioned Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, an Iraqi advisor to Qods Force commander Qassem Soleimani. “Treasury is taking action to shut down Iranian weapons smuggling networks that have been used to arm regional proxies of the IRGC Qods Force in Iraq, while personally enriching regime insiders,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “The Iraqi financial sector and the broader international financial system must harden their defenses against the continued deceptive tactics emanating from Tehran in order to avoid complicity in the IRGC’s ongoing sanctions evasion schemes and other malign activities.” 

June 24, 2019

President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order imposing sanctions on the office of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “The Supreme Leader of Iran is one who ultimately is responsible for the hostile conduct of the regime. He is respected within his country. His office oversees the regime’s most brutal instruments,” said Trump. The designation was a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran. 

But Trump also held out the prospect of diplomacy. “America is a peace-loving nation. We do not seek conflict with Iran or any other country. I look forward to the day when sanctions can be finally lifted and Iran can become a peaceful, prosperous, and productive nation. That can go very quickly; it can be tomorrow. It can also be in years from now,” he said. “So I look forward to discussing whatever I have to discuss with anybody that wants to speak.”

After Trump signed the Executive Order, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced sanctions on eight senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). He said the move would lock up billions of dollars in Iranian assets and affect others in the chain of command. Mnuchin charged that the commanders “are responsible for the Iranian regime’s provocative attacks orchestrated in internationally recognized waters and airspace, as well as Iran’s malign activities in Syria.” Mnuchin added that the Treasury was preparing to designate Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif later in the week. The announcements followed the downing of a U.S. surveillance drone by Iran on June 20 and attacks on tankers in May and June that Washington attributed to Iranian forces. 

July 18, 2019

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned seven companies and five individuals linked to an international procurement network that provided Iran with sensitive materials for its nuclear program. The companies and individuals designated were based in Iran, Belgium, and China. The Treasury said the network provided Iran’s Centrifuge Technology Company (TESA) with materials needed to produce centrifuges for Tehran’s uranium enrichment program. “Treasury is taking action to shut down an Iranian nuclear procurement network that leverages Chinese- and Belgium-based front companies to acquire critical nuclear materials and benefit the regime’s malign ambitions.  Iran cannot claim benign intent on the world stage while it purchases and stockpiles products for centrifuges,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.  “The U.S. government is deeply concerned by the Iranian regime’s uranium enrichment and other provocative behaviors, and will continue to target all who provide support to Iran’s nuclear program.”

July 31, 2019

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for acting on behalf of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The United States had already designated Khamenei on June 24. The Treasury accused Zarif of implementing the regime’s “reckless agenda” by disseminating its propaganda throughout the world. In a statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said, "Iran’s Foreign Ministry is not merely the diplomatic arm of the Islamic Republic but also a means of advancing many of the Supreme Leader’s destabilizing policies."

August 28, 2019

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned two procurement networks linked to the Iranian regime and its military organizations. The designation included two Iranian men and several companies accused of providing ten million dollars of materials for Tehran’s WMD program. One network used a front company in Hong Kong to evade sanctions and obtain U.S. technology and components for individuals connected to the Iranian regime and IRGC. The second network procured aluminum alloy products for companies controlled by Iran’s defense ministry. “As the Iranian regime attempts to use complex schemes to hide its efforts to bolster its WMD program, the U.S. government will continue to thwart them at every turn," said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Sigal Mandelker. "We urge governments worldwide to recognize the extraordinary lengths to which the regime in Tehran will go to conceal its behavior, and to ensure that their companies and financial institutions are not facilitating Iran's proliferation activities.”

August 29, 2019

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned four individuals responsible for transferring tens of millions of dollars between Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hamas in Gaza. Muhammad Sarur, Kamal Abdelrahman Aref Awad, Fawaz Mahmud Ali Nasser, and Muhammad Kamal are accused of funneling money to Hamas’s operational arm, Izz-Al-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, through Hezbollah’s sanctioned bank, Bayt al-Mal. “These facilitators funneled tens of millions of dollars from Iran’s Qods Force through Hizballah in Lebanon to HAMAS for terrorist attacks originating from the Gaza Strip.  HAMAS’s continued violent campaign against innocent civilians and the state of Israel is to the great detriment of the people in Gaza,” said Sigal Mandelker, Treasury’s Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.  “This Administration will not falter to hold HAMAS and its Iranian leaders accountable for their violence.  Treasury will continue to disrupt terrorist networks by targeting those who generate funds to carry out the Iranian regime’s violent agenda.” 

September 3, 2019

The United States imposed new sanctions on Iran’s space program for supporting ballistic missile development. The move came after Iran’s failed attempt to launch a space vehicle on August 29. “Iran’s civilian space launch vehicle program allows it to gain experience with various technologies necessary for development of an ICBM – including staging, ignition of upper-stage engines, and control of a multiple-stage missile throughout flight,” warned the State Department. The United States sanctioned the Iran Space Agency and two of its research institutes. “These designations should serve as a warning to the international scientific community that collaborating with Iran’s space program could contribute to Tehran’s ability to develop a nuclear weapon delivery system,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

September 3, 2019

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned the Iranian oil tanker, the Adrian Darya-1, which it accused of transporting 2.1 million barrels of Iranian crude oil on behalf of the IRGC. The ship, formerly named the Grace 1, was detained by Britain off the coast of Gibraltar on July 4 for attempting to smuggle oil to Syria in violation of E.U. sanctions. Treasury also designated the ship’s captain, Akhilesh Kumar, for providing support to a terrorist organization. “Vessels like the Adrian Darya 1 enable the IRGC-QF to ship and transfer large volumes of oil, which they attempt to mask and sell illicitly to fund the regime’s malign activities and propagate terrorism,” said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. “Anyone providing support to the Adrian Darya 1 risks being sanctioned.  The path to relief is to change course and not allow the IRGC-QF to profit from illicit oil sales.”

September 4, 2019

The U.S. Treasury designated an “oil for terror” network accused of aiding the IRGC in funding its terrorist operations. The network consisted of 25 entities and individuals and 11 vessels involved in hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit oil sales. Brian Hook, the U.S. special envoy for Iran, said the United States would offer up to $15 million for any information that disrupts IRGC financial operations. “Today’s announcement is historic. It’s the first time that the United States has offered a reward for information that disrupts a government entity’s financial operations,” Hook said. “We have taken this step because the IRGC operates more like a terrorist organization than it does a government.”

September 20, 2019

President Trump announced sanctions on Iran’s central bank. “We’ve never done it at this level,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s too bad what’s happening with Iran. It’s going to hell.” Trump added, “They are broke and they could solve the problem very easily. All they have to do is stop with the terror.” Trump had directed the Treasury to increase sanctions on Iran following the September 14 drone and cruise missile strike on Saudi oil facilities, which Washington blamed on Tehran. Iran denied involvement.

The United States also sanctioned the National Development Fund of Iran and Etemad Tejarate Pars Co., which allegedly conceals financial transfers for military purchases. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the measures would cut off Tehran’s last remaining source of funds. “Iran’s Central Bank and the National Development Fund were ostensibly intended to safeguard the welfare of the Iranian people, but have been used instead by this corrupt regime to move Iran’s foreign currency reserves for terrorist proxies,” he said. 

September 25, 2019 

The United States announced sanctions on five Chinese companies and six Chinese nationals accused of importing oil from Iran. The United States designated the China Concord Petroleum Co. Ltd., and two units of a major Chinese shipping company, Cosco Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Co. Ltd. and Cosco Shipping Tanker (Dalian) Seaman and Ship Management Co. Ltd. Washington also sanctioned the companies’ top executives. “We are telling China, and all nations: know that we will sanction every violation,” said U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a speech at the United Against Nuclear Iran Summit.

November 4, 2019 

The United States marked 40 years since the seizure of its embassy in Tehran by announcing new sanctions on Iran. The Treasury Department blacklisted nine members of the supreme leader’s inner circle. “The designation seeks to block funds from flowing to a shadow network of Khamenei’s military and foreign affairs advisors who have for decades oppressed the Iranian people, supported terrorism, and advanced destabilizing policies around the world,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. 

November 22, 2019  

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Iran’s communications minister, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, for his role in internet censorship. Washington blamed Jahromi’s ministry for blocking internet access in the country for several days in November after widespread protests sparked by a sudden fuel price hike.  

The Treasury said that the disruption of internet connectivity followed similar patterns that occurred during other protests in Iran in 2017 and 2018. “Iran’s leaders know that a free and open internet exposes their illegitimacy, so they seek to censor internet access to quell anti-regime protests,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “We are sanctioning Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology for restricting internet access, including to popular messaging applications that help tens of millions of Iranians stay connected to each other and the outside world.” 

December 6, 2019 

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned three Iran-backed Iraqi militia leaders for their alleged role in the killing of innocent protestors in Iraq. The Treasury designated Qais al Khazali, leader of the Asaib Ahl al Haq, and Laith al Khazali, his brother and another senior leader of the Iran-backed group. The sanctions also targeted Hussein Falih al Lami, security chief for the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella organization that includes many Iran-backed militias. “Iran’s attempts to suppress the legitimate demands of the Iraqi people for reform of their government through the slaughter of peaceful demonstrators is appalling,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “Peaceful public dissent and protest are fundamental elements of all democracies. The United States stands with the Iraqi people in their efforts to root out corruption. We will hold accountable the perpetrators of human rights abuse and corruption in Iraq.” 

December 11, 2019 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced sanctions on three Iranian transportation companies that “helped Iran import items for its weapons of mass destruction programs.” The United States also blacklisted a shipping network that smuggles weapons from Iran to Yemen to support the Qods Force, an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.  

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Iran’s largest shipping company, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and national airline, Mahan Air. It accused IRISL of using falsified documents and other deceptive tactics to secretly ship equipment for Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) and Shahid Hemmat Industries Group (SHIG)—entities that operate Iran’s ballistic missile program. Mahan Air allegedly helped Tehran transport missile-related graphite and high-grade carbon fiber in violation of U.N. sanctions. The following are remarks by Secretary Pompeo and a Treasury press release. 

January 10, 2020 

President Trump issued an executive order authorizing sanctions “against any individual or entity operating in the construction, manufacturing, textiles, or mining sectors of the Iranian economy.” Mining and metals have historically been one of the regime's largest non-oil sources of export revenue, some 10 percent. The U.S. Treasury also blacklisted eight senior Iranian officials, including the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani. “The United States is targeting senior Iranian officials for their involvement and complicity in Tuesday’s ballistic missile strikes,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Iran had launched more than a dozen missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops in retaliation for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the elite Qods Force. “We are also designating Iran’s largest metals manufacturers, and imposing sanctions on new sectors of the Iranian economy including construction, manufacturing, and mining. These sanctions will continue until the regime stops the funding of global terrorism and commits to never having nuclear weapons,” Mnuchin added.

December 6, 2019  

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned three Iran-backed Iraqi militia leaders for their alleged role in the killing of innocent protestors in Iraq. The Treasury designated Qais al Khazali, leader of the Asaib Ahl al Haq, and Laith al Khazali, his brother and another senior leader of the Iran-backed group. The sanctions also targeted Hussein Falih al Lami, security chief for the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella organization that includes many Iran-backed militias. “Iran’s attempts to suppress the legitimate demands of the Iraqi people for reform of their government through the slaughter of peaceful demonstrators is appalling,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “Peaceful public dissent and protest are fundamental elements of all democracies. The United States stands with the Iraqi people in their efforts to root out corruption. We will hold accountable the perpetrators of human rights abuse and corruption in Iraq.”  

December 11, 2019  

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced sanctions on three Iranian transportation companies that “helped Iran import items for its weapons of mass destruction programs.” The United States also blacklisted a shipping network that smuggles weapons from Iran to Yemen to support the Qods Force, an elite branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.   

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Iran’s largest shipping company, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and national airline, Mahan Air. It accused IRISL of using falsified documents and other deceptive tactics to secretly ship equipment for Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) and Shahid Hemmat Industries Group (SHIG)—entities that operate Iran’s ballistic missile program. Mahan Air allegedly helped Tehran transport missile-related graphite and high-grade carbon fiber in violation of U.N. sanctions. The following are remarks by Secretary Pompeo and a Treasury press release.  

January 10, 2020 

President Trump issued an executive order authorizing sanctions “against any individual or entity operating in the construction, manufacturing, textiles, or mining sectors of the Iranian economy.” Mining and metals have historically been one of the regime's largest non-oil sources of export revenue, some 10 percent. The U.S. Treasury also blacklisted eight senior Iranian officials, including the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani. “The United States is targeting senior Iranian officials for their involvement and complicity in Tuesday’s ballistic missile strikes,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Iran had launched more than a dozen missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops in retaliation for the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the head of the elite Qods Force. “We are also designating Iran’s largest metals manufacturers, and imposing sanctions on new sectors of the Iranian economy including construction, manufacturing, and mining. These sanctions will continue until the regime stops the funding of global terrorism and commits to never having nuclear weapons,” Mnuchin added. 

January 17, 2020 

The United States blacklisted a Revolutionary Guards commander for his involvement in the crackdown on demonstrators in November 2019. Brigadier General Hassan Shahvarpour “oversaw the massacre of 148 helpless Iranians in the Mahshahr region,” U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook told reporters. Hook said information about Shahvarpour and other regime officials came from some 88,000 tips received by the State Department from Iranians. 

January 23, 2020 

The U.S. Treasury Department designated four companies accused of purchasing Iranian oil and petrochemical products in violation of U.S. sanctions. Two companies based in Hong Kong, one company based in Shanghai and another company based in Dubai allegedly helped Iran’s state-owned oil company export millions of dollars’ worth of petroleum products. The United States also sanctioned Ali Bayandrian, who is linked to Hong Kong-based Triliance Petroleum, and Zhiqing Wang, who has ties to Shandong Oiwangwa. “Iran’s petrochemical and petroleum sectors are primary sources of funding for the Iranian regime’s global terrorist activities and enable its persistent use of violence against its own people,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. 

January 30, 2020 

The United States announced sanctions on the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and its chief, Ali Akbar Salehi. “The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has played a big role in Iran breaching its key nuclear commitments [under the 2015 nuclear deal],” Hook said. “It has exceeded the limits on its uranium stockpile and enrichment levels. The head of AEOI personally inaugurated the installation of new advanced centrifuges to expand its uranium enrichment capacity.” 

The United States also renewed sanctions waivers on Iran’s nuclear projects for 60 days. The waivers allowed Russian, Chinese and European companies to continue work on the Arak heavy-water research reactor, the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the Tehran Research Reactor and several other joint initiatives.

February 20, 2020

Special Representative Hook announced sanctions on five key members of Iran’s Guardian Council, an unelected panel of 12 Islamic jurists and scholars. The council disqualified more than 9,000 out of some 14,000 candidates who registered to run in parliamentary elections, scheduled for February 21. The Treasury Department said that it had designated Ahmad Jannati, Abbas Ali Kadkhodaei, Siamak Rahpeyk, Mohammad Hasan Sadeghi Moghadam and Mohammad Yazdi—all members of the Guardian Council and its Elections Supervision Committee. “The Trump administration will not tolerate the manipulation of elections to favor the regime’s malign agenda, and this action exposes those senior regime officials responsible for preventing the Iranian people from freely choosing their leaders,” said Treasury Secretary Mnuchin. “The United States will continue to support the democratic aspirations of Iranians.”

February 25, 2020

The State Department announced sanctions on 13 foreign companies and individuals for supporting Iran's missile program. The entities were based in China, Iraq, Russia, and Turkey. The State Department said that the action was based on a periodic review required under the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act.

March 17, 2020

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced new sanctions on a petrochemical smuggling network and Iran’s nuclear program. The State Department designated nine companies in South Africa, Hong Kong and China, as well as three Iranian nationals, for purchasing, selling and transporting petrochemical products from Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. 

March 26, 2020

The United States sanctioned 20 front companies, senior officials and business associates based in Iran and Iraq for funneling money to the Qods Force, the external operations arm of the IRGC, and transferring weapons to Iraqi militias backed by Iran.

May 1, 2020

The Treasury Department sanctioned Amir Dianat, a dual Iranian-Iraqi national, for supporting Iranian arms smuggling operations. Dianat’s company, Taif Mining Services LLC, was also designated as a front company for the Qods Force. “The Iranian regime and its supporters continue to prioritize the funding of international terrorist organizations over the health and well-being of the Iranian people,” Treasury Secretary Mnuchin said.

May 19, 2020

The Treasury Department sanctioned a China-based company for providing services to Mahan Air, an Iranian airline sanctioned in 2011 for supporting the elite Qods Force. Mahan Air has transported fighters, weapons, equipment and funds to support the Syrian regime and Iranian proxies across the Middle East, including Hezbollah. Shanghai Saint Logistics Limited was the seventh company sanctioned for acting as a general sales agent for Mahan Air. 

May 20, 2020

The United States sanctioned Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli for human rights abuses. Fazli allegedly authorized police to use lethal force on protestors in November 2019. The Treasury Department also sanctioned seven Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) officials and an IRGC commander who were involved in the bloody crackdown. The United States also sanctioned two prisons and a wealthy foundation controlled by the LEF.

The State Department imposed visa restrictions on Ali Fallahian, who headed the Ministry of Intelligence and Security from 1989 to 1997. Fallahian was allegedly involved in assassinations and attacks across the world, including the killing of a U.S. exchange student in the Gaza Strip in 1995 and the bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that left 85 dead in 1994.

May 27, 2020

Secretary Pompeo announced the end of waivers – or exemptions from U.S. sanctions – allowing British, Chinese and Russian companies to work at three Iranian nuclear sites. The work focused on ways to contain or limit Iran’s ability to use its nuclear program to build a bomb. The foreign projects were part of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the world’s six major powers. Foreign companies involved were given 60 days to wind down activities on three projects—or face U.S. sanctions. 

June 8, 2020

The United States expanded sanctions on Iran’s shipping industry. The Treasury Department designated Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its Shanghai-based subsidiary, E-Sail Shipping Company Ltd, along with more than 100 ships and tankers. “IRISL has repeatedly transported items related to Iran’s ballistic missile and military programs and is also a longstanding carrier of other proliferation-sensitive items,” including items that can be used in Iran’s nuclear program, Secretary Pompeo said. He had announced the measures six months ago but delayed implementation for 180 days to allow exporters to find alternative ways to ship humanitarian goods – which are exempt from U.S. sanctions – to the Islamic Republic.

June 25, 2020

The Treasury Department sanctioned four companies in Iran’s metals sector, a key source of export revenue. It also sanctioned four sales agents—one based in Germany and three based in the United Arab Emirates—that are owned or controlled by Mobarakeh Steel Company, Iran’s largest steel manufacturer.

August 19, 2020

The Treasury Department sanctioned two companies based in the United Arab Emirates for providing parts and logistics services to Iranian airline Mahan Air. “The Iranian regime uses Mahan Air as a tool to spread its destabilizing agenda around the world, including to the corrupt regimes in Syria and Venezuela, as well as terrorist groups throughout the Middle East,” said Secretary Mnuchin.

August 21, 2020

The State Department imposed visa restrictions on 14 officials involved in “gross violations of human rights on behalf of the Iranian regime.” On the annual Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism, Secretary Pompeo said that 13 were assassins who carried out “a brutal and intricately planned” assassination of Dr. Kazem Rajavi, the first revolutionary ambassador to the U.N. office in Geneva who resigned in 1980. Hojatollah Khodaei Souri, the former director of notorious Evin Prison, was the 14th official sanctioned. “These actions send a message of support to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s many victims worldwide that we will promote accountability for those who spread terror and violence,” Pompeo said. “The United States will continue to pressure Iran to treat its own people with dignity and respect.”

September 3, 2020

The State Department sanctioned five companies for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport and marketing of Iranian petroleum. The Treasury also sanctioned six companies with ties to Triliance Petrochemical – a Hong Kong-based company with branches in Iran, China, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. The Treasury had sanctioned Triliance in January 2020 for transferring the equivalent of millions of dollars to the National Iranian Oil Company.

September 17, 2020

The Treasury Department sanctioned two groups for cyber espionage. The new sanctions covered Rana Intelligence Computing Company, an Iranian cyber firm, and a cyber espionage group dubbed “Advanced Persistent Threat 39 (APT 39)” by U.S. cyber security companies. The Treasury also designated 45 individuals employed by Rana. All were allegedly working – directly or indirectly – for the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS).      

September 19, 2020

The United States reimposed U.N. sanctions on Iran that had been lifted as part of the 2015 nuclear deal. Secretary Pompeo declared that the United States would unilaterally reenact five sets of U.N. sanctions from 2006 through 2010, despite opposition from the other five major powers that brokered the nuclear deal and most of the 15-member Security Council. The old sanctions reimposed by the United States included: Resolution 1696, Resolution 1737, Resolution 1747, Resolution 1803 and Resolution 1929.

September 21, 2020

The United States sanctioned 24 government organizations, companies, officials and suppliers connected to Iran’s conventional arms, nuclear and missile programs. The new sanctions targeted:

• Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Force Logistics (MODAFL)
• Iran’s Defense Industries Organization (DIO), the state-run conglomerate that oversees domestic military manufacturing, and its director Mehrdad Akhlaghi-Ketabchi
• Three AEOI deputy directors and the AEOI spokesperson
• Six individuals and four companies that supplied liquid fuel for ballistic missiles and space rockets
• Five Iranian nationals involved in procuring nuclear material or acquiring knowledge on nuclear technology 
• Two Iranian officials who supervised or installed advanced centrifuge installation
• Nicholas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, for the purchase or sale “of arms or related material, including spare parts” from Iran

October 8, 2020

The Treasury Department sanctioned 18 major Iranian banks to stop illicit access to U.S. dollars. Most Iranian banks, including the Central Bank that facilitates trade and regulates currency, were already sanctioned. The new measures mainly hit private banks that had limited or no involvement illicit activities. They were designated because the Trump administration had declared Iran’s entire financial sector a threat to the United States. One bank was affiliated with the military.

October 19, 2020

The State Department sanctioned six companies and two individuals based in China and Hong Kong for doing business with companies owned or controlled by IRISL. IRISL and its Shanghai-based subsidiary, E-Sail Shipping Company Ltd, had been sanctioned in June 2020 for transporting items related to Iran’s ballistic missile and military programs.

October 22, 2020

The United States sanctioned five government entities – some disguised as media outlets – for trying to influence the U.S. elections. The Treasury Department designated the IRGC, the Qods Force, Bayan Gostar Institute, Iranian Islamic Radio and Television Union and International Union of Virtual Media. It alleged that Iran ran disinformation campaigns to sow discord among readers via social media and messaging applications.

October 26, 2020

The United States sanctioned Iran’s Ministry of Petroleum and Minister of Petroleum, the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), and 21 other individuals, entities and vessels. NIOC, NITC and the National Petrochemical Company had already been sanctioned, but under different authorities. The Trump administration designated them under a counterterrorism authority for supporting the Qods Force.

October 29, 2020

The State Department and Treasury Department sanctioned 11 companies based in Iran, China and Singapore for purchasing and selling Iranian oil. Four Iranian men and one Chinese woman were also added to the sanctions list.  “The Iranian regime benefits from a global network of entities facilitating the Iranian petrochemical sector,” Secretary Mnuchin said. “The United States remains committed to targeting any revenue source the Iranian regime uses to fund terrorist groups and oppress the Iranian people.”

November 10, 2020

The Treasury Department sanctioned six companies and four individuals for supplying electronic components to an Iranian military firm. Two of the companies were based in Iran, one in Hong Kong, one in China and one in Brunei. Another firm claimed to have offices in China, Singapore, Taiwan and the UAE. Two of the individuals were Iranian nationals and two were Taiwanese nationals.

November 18, 2020

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi for complicity in human rights abuses, including the violent crackdown on protestors in November 2019. It also designated Bonyad Mostazafan—or the Foundation of the Oppressed—as well as 10 men and 51 companies controlled or owned by the foundation and involved in the energy, finance and mining sectors. The foundation, allegedly controlled by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was established after the 1979 revolution to help the poor and disabled. Khamenei “uses Bonyad Mostazafan to reward his allies under the pretense of charity,” Secretary Mnuchin said.

The State Department separately sanctioned two senior Revolutionary Guards—Brigadier General Heidar Abbaszadeh and Colonel Reza Papi—for their roles in the 2019 protests, when nearly 150 people were killed in the city of Mahshahr. “Both protesters and bystanders were targeted by snipers on rooftops, tracked down and surrounded by armored vehicles, and sprayed with machine-gun fire,” Secretary of State Pompeo said. “When protesters sought refuge in nearby marshlands, regime forces set fire to the area and then shot those trying to escape.”

November 25, 2020

The State Department sanctioned four companies located in China and Russia for supporting Iran’s missile program, under the Iran, North Korea, and Syrian Nonproliferation Act. Two of the companies—Chengdu Best Materials Co. Ltd. and Zibo Elim Trade Co., Ltd. —were located in China. Nilco Group and Joint Stock Company Elecon were located in Russia.

December 3, 2020

The Treasury Department sanctioned an Iranian firm, Shahid Meisami Group, and its director for chemical weapons research. The shop was a subsidiary of the Iranian Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), established in 2011 by the prominent nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. The United States sanctioned SPND in 2014 for conducting research on weapons of mass destruction. Fakhrizadeh, long suspected by Western and Israeli intelligence of heading Iran’s nuclear weapons program, was assassinated in November 2020. 

December 8, 2020

The Treasury Department sanctioned Hasan Irlu, Iran's diplomatic envoy to the Houthis in Yemen, for allegedly helping to provide advanced weapons and training to the rebels. The Trump administration also sanctioned Yousef al Muraj, a Pakistani operative with alleged ties to the IRGC. It also sanctioned al Mustafa International University, which it claimed was a center for militia recruitment by the IRGC.

December 14, 2020

The Treasury Department sanctioned two Iranians allegedly involved in the disappearance of former FBI agent Robert Levinson. Levinson was abducted on Iran’s Kish Island in March 2007. Thirteen years later, in March 2020, Levinson’s wife and children said that they believed he had died in Iranian custody, based on information provided by U.S. officials. Mohammad Baseri and Ahmad Khazai, senior Ministry of Intelligence and Security officials, “were involved in the abduction, detention, and probable death of Mr. Levinson,” Secretary Pompeo said.

December 15, 2020

The State Department designated Saraya al Mukhtar, a Bahrain-based militia with ties to Iran, as a terrorist organization. Saraya al Mukhtar “plotted attacks against U.S. personnel in Bahrain and has offered cash rewards for the assassination of Bahraini officials,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. It also allegedly received financial and logistic support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Saraya al Mukhtar’s goal is to overthrow the monarchy. The listing cut off Saraya al Mukhtar from the U.S. financial system and banned U.S. citizens from dealing with it.

January 5, 2021

The Treasury Department sanctioned 12 Iranian and four foreign-based companies as well as one Iranian man involved with steel production and sales. “The Trump Administration remains committed to denying revenue flowing to the Iranian regime as it continues to sponsor terrorist groups, support oppressive regimes, and seek weapons of mass destruction,” Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. The action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 13871, issued in May 2019, which prohibited transactions related to Iran’s aluminum, copper, iron and steel sectors. Steel and other metals have historically accounted for some 10 percent of export revenue, the biggest source of revenue after oil. 

January 8, 2021

The Treasury Department sanctioned Falih al Fayyadh, Chairman of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Commission (PMC) and former National Security Advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, for human rights abuses. Fayyadh headed the PMC when its forces, including militias supported by Iran, allegedly fired live ammunition at Iraqi anti-government protestors who began demonstrating in October 2019. “Iran-aligned PMC forces continue to wage a murderous campaign against political activists in Iraq who are calling for free and fair elections, respect for human rights, and transparent and accountable governance,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

January 13, 2021

The United States sanctioned two major foundations, along with their heads and subsidiaries, controlled by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The two bonyads (charitable organizations), Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order and Astan Quds Razavi, have accumulated vast wealth through involvement in many sectors, including construction, agriculture, energy, telecommunications and financial services. “These institutions enable Iran’s elite to sustain a corrupt system of ownership over large parts of Iran’s economy,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. A total of three individuals and 16 entities were designated. 

January 15, 2021

The United States expanded sanctions on Iran’s defense and shipping industries during President Donald Trump’s last full week in office. The administration sanctioned three weapons manufacturers, seven international shipping companies and two Iranian business executives.

The defense industry sanctions punished Iran for transferring conventional arms to its proxies in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. “This military equipment, which includes attack boats, missiles, and combat drones, provides a means for the Iranian regime to perpetrate its global terror campaign,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. The sanctions targeted three branches of Iran’s defense ministry: the Marine Industries Organization (MIO), Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO), and the Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO).

The shipping sanctions targeted Iranian, Chinese and Emirati businesses that did business with Iran’s national maritime shipping company, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL). The companies shipped raw or partially finished steel products to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions, the State Department alleged. The administration also sanctioned Mohammad Reza Modarres Khiabani, the CEO of IRISL, and Hamidreza Azimian, the CEO of Mobarakeh Steel Company. 

January 19, 2021

The State Department added 15 metals to its list of banned imports to Iran, including seven types of aluminum, six types of steel and two types of zirconium. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that the metals were “used in connection with Iran’s nuclear, military or ballistic missile programs.” He threatened sanctions against companies that transferred the metals to Iran’s construction sector, which he said was controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). “The IRGC’s construction firm and many of its subsidiaries remain sanctioned by the United Nations because they were directly involved in the clandestine construction of the uranium enrichment site at Fordow,” he said in a statement.

 

This chapter was originally published in 2010, and is updated as of January 2021. Garrett Nada, managing editor of The Iran Primer, and Alex Yacoubian, a program assistant at the U.S. Institute of Peace, contributed to this chapter as well.