Iran: sanctions and trade risk

Comprehensive embargoComprehensive US embargo; UN, EU, Swiss and UK nuclear-related sanctions reinstated in 2025.

As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 1,729 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Iran.Lists last checked 2026-11-07 21:01 UTC.

Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓

Nearly all exports, imports and financial dealings with Iran are restricted by at least one major sanctions regime. Pause any shipment until a qualified review confirms it is permitted or licensed.

Sources: SECO — Massnahmen gegenüber der Islamischen Republik Iran (18 Aug 2026) · EU Sanctions Map — Iran non-proliferation (notes on 29 Sep 2025 reinstatement) (31 Mar 2026) · UN Security Council — Sanctions (15 active regimes) (24 Oct 2026) · reviewed 24 Oct 2026

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By sanctions regime

The indicator above is the strictest of these. Which regimes are relevant to a shipment depends on many connections — dispatch country, company location, incorporation, nationality, ownership, banks, goods origin. The check selects them from your inputs in a simplified way; UN measures take effect through each country's implementing law.

Regime	Indicator	What applies
UN	Heavy sanctions	Nuclear-related sanctions reinstated in Sep 2025 (resolution 1737 regime) — implemented by UN member states in their own law.
EU	Heavy sanctions	Bans on oil, gas, petrochemicals, finance and metals reinstated on 29 Sep 2025; arms, drones and missiles also restricted.
Switzerland	Heavy sanctions	Ordinance revised Dec 2025: reinstated UN measures, oil, gas and petrochemical bans; large transfers need authorisation.
UK	Heavy sanctions	UK Iran and Iran (nuclear) regimes in force.
US	Comprehensive embargo	Comprehensive US trade embargo.

On the sanctions lists

1,729 entries on the official lists name Iran — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.

List	Entries	Companies & organisations	Vessels	Aircraft
US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)	983	983	—	—
Switzerland SECO Consolidated Sanctions List	265	265	—	—
EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List (FSF)	259	259	—	—
UK Sanctions List (FCDO)	194	194	—	—
UN Security Council Consolidated List	27	27	—	—
US OFAC — Consolidated (Non-SDN) Lists	1	1	—	—

Latest changes

Switzerland (SECO) · Iran: 1 new designation
18 Aug 2026 · New listings

All updates →

Logistics profile

Iran: logistics and trade

Energy exporter and INSTC transit country on the Persian Gulf

Iran (IR) is a major energy and transit country in Western Asia, bordering Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan, with coastlines on the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Its foreign trade is dominated by crude oil, natural gas and petrochemicals, while the country depends on imports of machinery, technology and consumer goods. Customs clearance is handled electronically by the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) through the EPL system with a risk-based green/yellow/red channel. The standard VAT rate is 10 percent (2026). Shahid Rajaee port in Bandar Abbas handles most container traffic, while Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman provides deep-sea access to the Indian Ocean bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is a central link of the INSTC north-south corridor.

Capital: Tehran
Population: 91,567,738
Area: 1,648,195 km²
Currency: Iranian Rial (IRR)
Continent: Asia
Region: Near East / West Asia
Economic area: ECO / EAEU free trade agreement
Religions: Islam
Access to the sea: Yes

Transport modes Road · Rail · Pipeline

Current situation: Payment processing is more difficult; INSTC and EAEU trade with Russia is gaining importance; Hormuz risk has increased.
Seasonal conditions: Extreme summer heat above 45 degrees in the Persian Gulf, dust storms in the south, pronounced earthquake risk nationwide, and snowfall in mountain regions in winter.

Main seaports

Bandar Abbas
Bandar Abbas (IR BND), Iran's main gateway on the Strait of Hormuz. Containers at Shahid Rajaee (~2.4M TEU 2024). 2025 blast.
Bushehr
Bushehr (IR BUZ): Hormuz 8 ships/day (norm. 85), US blockade from 14 Jul, Iran-Oman deal. No commercial traffic. Seek alternatives.
Bandar-E Shahid Rejaie
Bandar-e Shahid Rajaee (IR BSR): Iran's largest container port at Bandar Abbas, over 3M TEU in 2024. April 2025 blast.
Chah Bahar
Chabahar (IR ZBR): Iran's only deep-water ocean port on the Gulf of Oman and start of the INSTC corridor. ~60,000 TEU in 2024; containers otherwise via Bandar Abbas.
Khorramshahr
Khorramshahr (IR KHO): Iranian river port on the Arvand Rud for general cargo, bulk, RoRo and vehicles.
Bandar Khomeyni
Bandar Imam Khomeini (IR BKM): one of Iran's largest multipurpose Persian Gulf ports — petrochemicals, grain, bulk, breakbulk, RoRo. Boxes via Bandar Abbas.

Main cargo airports

Imam Khomeini International AirportIKA
Imam Khomeini (IKA): Iran's main air cargo gateway south of Tehran. 84,000 m² cargo terminal, ~120,000–142,000 t/year, IRICA customs, airport-city free zone.
Mehrabad International AirportTHR
Mehrabad (THR/OIII): Tehran's domestic airport, ~19,700 tonnes of freight in H1 2025. International air cargo routes via IKA.
Mashhad International AirportMHD
Mashhad (MHD, Shahid Hasheminejad): Iran's second-busiest airport, 8-10 million passengers, dedicated cargo terminal, IRICA customs, Central Asia gateway.
Shiraz Shahid Dastghaib International AirportSYZ
Shiraz (SYZ/OISS): southern Iran's largest airport, ~33,000 t cargo (2017), mainly belly freight. IRICA customs, about 600 km to Bandar Abbas.

Road corridors

INSTC road axis Bandar Abbas-Tehran-Astara
Bazargan (Turkey border)
Bashmaq/Parviz Khan (Iraq border)
Dogharoun (Afghanistan border)

Rail corridors

INSTC rail corridor (Bandar Abbas-Tehran)
Rasht-Astara (under construction)
Tehran-Mashhad
Connection to Turkey (Razi) and Turkmenistan (Sarakhs)

Main trade lanes

China
United Arab Emirates
India
Turkey
Russia
Iraq

Customs and import

Customs authority Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA / Gomrok)Official website ↗

Import customs system: Electronic clearance via the IRICA EPL system with a risk-based channel procedure (green/yellow/red); connected to the Comprehensive Trade System (NTSW).
Export customs system: Export declarations are filed electronically via EPL/IRICA and the Comprehensive Trade System; exports are in principle exempt from value added tax.
Import VAT: Standard rate 10 percent (as of 2026; parliament rejected an increase to 12); special rates tobacco 12, fuel 20; plus customs duty and Commercial Benefit Tax on CIF value.
Proofs of origin and trade agreements: Preferential origin under the EAEU-Iran Free Trade Agreement (in force since 15.5.2025, covering about 90 percent of goods) and ECO; certificate of origin issued by IRICA and the Iranian chamber of commerce.
Restricted and prohibited goods: Import bans include alcohol, pork and goods contrary to Sharia or public order; many goods require permits and registration.

Typical import documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / air waybill
Certificate of origin
Proforma registration in the Comprehensive Trade System
Order registration (Sayt) and currency allocation

Typical export documents

Commercial invoice
Packing list
Bill of lading / air waybill
Certificate of origin (chamber of commerce)
Export declaration EPL/IRICA

Logistics conditions

Customs complexity: High
Customs delays: High
Port congestion: Medium to high
Dangerous goods relevance: High
Pharma and cold chain relevance: Medium to high
E-commerce relevance: Medium

Trade

Top import partners

China United Arab Emirates India Türkiye Russia

Top export partners

China India United Arab Emirates Türkiye Iraq

Top import goods

Machinery
Vehicles
Electronics
Food
Pharmaceuticals

Top export goods

Petroleum products
Petrochemicals
Natural gas
Steel
Agricultural products

Typical cargo

Crude oil and petroleum products
Petrochemicals
Natural gas
Steel
Machinery
Consumer goods
Agricultural products

Latest logistics news

Hormuz: Low Vessel Traffic and Significant Intelligence Gaps22 Oct 2026
UKMTO reports 254 Hormuz transits in seven days. The figures are partially unverified, and many attacked vessels do not report incidents directly.
Hormuz: Report Describes New Attack Tactics Against Vessels21 Oct 2026
Reuters reports on altered Iranian attack tactics in the Hormuz region. For affected shipments, security situation and travel confirmation remain critical factors.
Hormuz: Only Four Cargo Ships Registered in a Single Day23 Sept 2026
Only four cargo ships were registered in the Strait of Hormuz on that day. Due to disabled AIS, significantly more vessels may have actually transited.
Hormuz Remains a Problem Zone: China Restructures Its Oil Route19 Aug 2026
China is diverting its oil shipments away from Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb. At the same time, a deadly attack on a cargo vessel demonstrates how high the risk remains.
Strait of Hormuz: Open, Closed, or Just Too Risky?21 Jun 2026
Iran declares the Strait of Hormuz closed, the USA disagrees. However, for shipping companies, the practical situation is what matters: traffic remains significantly restricted.

Logistics questions

What is the import VAT rate in Iran?

The standard rate is 10 percent (as of 2026; parliament rejected an increase to 12 percent). Special rates apply to certain goods, such as 12 percent on tobacco and 20 percent on fuel. Basic foodstuffs, medicines and books are exempt. In addition, customs duty and the Commercial Benefit Tax are charged on the CIF value.

Which customs authority is responsible in Iran?

The responsible authority is the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA, locally Gomrok) under the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Clearance is carried out electronically via the EPL system with a risk-based channel procedure (green, yellow, red).

Through which ports does goods traffic to Iran pass?

The most important port is Shahid Rajaee in Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf, which handles the bulk of container traffic. Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman is the only deep-sea port with direct access to the Indian Ocean. On the Caspian coast, Bandar Anzali and Amirabad are relevant.

What is the INSTC and what role does Iran play in it?

The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) connects India via Iran with Russia and Northern Europe. Iran is the central transit link; Bandar Abbas serves as the southern endpoint, and rail projects such as Rasht-Astara are meant to close the gap on the western Caspian route.

Which goods may not be imported into Iran?

Prohibited items include alcohol, pork and goods that violate Sharia or public order. Many goods require permits and registration and must be declared in advance in the Comprehensive Trade System.

Are there tariff preferences for imports into Iran?

Yes. The full free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Iran has been in force since 15.5.2025 and covers about 90 percent of the tariff nomenclature. Preferences also exist under ECO. For Swiss exporters, there is no free trade agreement with Iran.

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