Iran Sanctions - Foreign Press Centers

expel some Iranian diplomats from Iranian embassies in their territories.
However, the EU came one step closer to this option after the November 29
attack on the British Embassy in Tehran: Britain closed the Iranian embassy in
Britain, and Norway, France, Germany, and the Netherlands withdrew their
ambassadors. The EU, as noted, on December 1 named numerous Iranian persons
as subject to a visa ban.
• Barring Iran from International Sporting Events. A further option is to limit
sports or cultural exchanges with Iran, such as Iran’s participation in the World
Cup soccer tournament. However, many experts oppose using sporting events to
accomplish political goals.
• Banning Passenger Flights to and from Iran. Bans on flights to and from Libya
were imposed on that country in response to the finding that its agents were
responsible for the December 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am 103 (now lifted).
There are no indications that a passenger aircraft flight ban is under consideration
among the P5+1.
• A Ban on Exports to Iran of Refined Oil Products and Energy Equipment and
Services. Another possibility is to make compulsory a worldwide ban on sales of
energy equipment or services to Iran. Such a measure would be aimed at firms
not banned or dissuaded from such activity by EU or U.S. sanctions discussed
above. During the 1990s, U.N. sanctions against Libya for the Pan Am 103
bombing banned the sale of energy equipment to Libya.
• Limiting Lending to Iran by International Financial Institutions. Resolution 1747
calls for restraint on but does not outright ban international lending to Iran. An
option is to make a ban on such lending mandatory.
• Banning Trade Financing or Official Insurance for Trade Financing. Another
option is to mandate a ban on official trade credit guarantees. This was not made
mandatory by Resolution 1929, but several countries imposed this sanction (as
far as most trade financing) subsequently. In discussions that led to Resolution
1929, a ban on investment in Iranian bonds reportedly was considered but deleted
to attract China and Russia’s support.
• Banning Worldwide Investment in Iran’s Energy Sector. This option would
represent an “internationalization” of the Iran Sanctions Act. Such a step is
authorized, not mandated, by Resolution 1929, and a growing number of
countries have used that authority to impose these sanctions on Iran.
• Restricting Operations of and Insurance for Iranian Shipping. One option,
reportedly long under consideration, has been to ban the provision of insurance,
or reinsurance, for any shipping to Iran. A call for restraint is in Resolution 1929,
but is not mandatory. The EU and other national measures announced
subsequently did include this sanction (IRISL) to operate. (The United States has
imposed sanctions on IRISL.)
• Imposing a Worldwide Ban on Sales of Arms to Iran. Resolution 1929 imposes a
ban on sales of major weapons systems to Iran, but another option is to extend
that ban to all lethal equipment.
Iran Sanctions
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