Last Updated: April 19, 2026
Last Updated: April 19, 2026
Iran
Type of sectoral sanctions
Petrol products
Measures
The Act also mandates that the President impose banking sanctions on all foreign financial institutions, including foreign central banks or foreign state-owned or controlled banks, that are found to knowingly conduct or facilitate significant financial transactions for the purchase of Iranian petroleum or petroleum products with either the CBI or any U.S.-designated Iranian financial institution. Foreign central and foreign state-owned or controlled banks are also subject to these sanctions if the transactions are for the sale of petroleum or petroleum products to Iran. This provision does not apply to transactions for the purchase of petroleum and petroleum products from Iran for 180 days after enactment, or longer depending on the President’s determination on the availability of price and alternative supplies as described further below. Application of Sanctions with Respect to Petroleum-Related Purchases: The sanctions do not apply to transactions for the purchase of petroleum products from Iran for at least 180 days and then not until the President determines that the price and supply of petroleum and petroleum products produced in countries other than Iran is sufficient to permit purchasers of petroleum and petroleum products from Iran to reduce significantly in volume their purchases from Iran. The President must make such a determination 90 days after the enactment of the Act and for every 180 days thereafter. If the President does not determine that there is a sufficient supply, sanctions will not apply with respect to transactions by both private and state owned or –controlled financial institutions for the purchase of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran.
Additional Sanctions
Program information
Authority
US
Program
Section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, P.L. 112-81, As Amended Through Public Law 115-91, Enacted December 12, 2017
Regime
OFAC country specific
Target State
Iran
Official Information
On December 31, 2011, the President signed into law the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Section 1245 of the NDAA requires the President to block the property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction of all Iranian financial institutions, including the Central Bank of Iran (CBI). It also aims to reduce Iranian oil revenues and discourage transactions with the CBI by providing for sanctions on foreign financial institutions that knowingly conduct or facilitate certain significant financial transactions with the CBI. (Sec. 1245) Designates the financial sector of Iran, including the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), as of primary money laundering concern for purposes of the implementation of U.S. international counter-money laundering procedures. Directs the President to block and prohibit all transactions in property and interests of Iranian financial institutions if such property and interests are in the United States, come within the United States, or come within the possession or control of a U.S. person. Requires the President to prohibit the opening, and prohibit or impose strict conditions on the maintaining in the United States of an account by a foreign financial institution that the President determines has knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant financial transaction with the CBI or another Iranian financial institution designated for the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Authorizes the President to impose other sanctions pursuant to such Act. Provides sanction exceptions with respect to the sale of food, medicine, and medical devices. Provides for the applicability of sanctions with respect to other foreign central banks, and with respect to petroleum transactions. Provides sanction exceptions. Authorizes the President to waive such sanctions for up to two 120-day periods for national security purposes, with a required justification to Congress for each waiver. Directs the President to carry out an initiative of multilateral diplomacy to persuade countries purchasing oil from Iran to take certain actions to hamper Iran's ability to use such proceeds for the purchase of certain military or dual-use technology. Requires semiannual reports from the President to Congress on the initiative. Authorizes the President to implement and enforce penalties associated with the authority provided under this section.
Additional Details
SDN
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