Decision 2023/1532 - Iran - Vers 11 Dec 2023

Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 of 20 July 2023 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine

Version applicable since 11 Dec 2023

Previous versions: Version 20 Jul 2023

Article 1

1.   It shall be prohibited to sell, supply, transfer or export, directly or indirectly, goods and technology which might contribute to Iran’s capability to manufacture Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), whether or not originating in the Union, to any natural or legal person, entity or body in Iran or for use in Iran.

2.   It shall be prohibited:

(a) to provide technical assistance, brokering services or other services related to the goods and technology referred to in paragraph 1 and to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of those goods and technology, directly or indirectly to any natural or legal person, entity or body in Iran, or for use in Iran;

(b) to provide financing or financial assistance related to the goods and technology referred to in paragraph 1 for any sale, supply, transfer or export of those goods and technology, or for the provision of related technical assistance, brokering services or other services, directly or indirectly to any natural or legal person, entity or body in Iran, or for use in Iran.

(c) to sell, license or transfer in any other way intellectual property rights or trade secrets as well as grant rights to access or re-use any material or information protected by means of intellectual property rights or constituting trade secrets related to the goods and technology referred to in paragraph 1 and to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of those goods and technology, directly or indirectly to any natural or legal person, entity or body in Iran or for use in Iran.

3.   The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this Article.

Article 2

1.   Member States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the entry into, or transit through, their territories of natural persons responsible for, supporting or involved in Iran’s UAV programme, as listed in the Annex, and natural persons associated with them, as also listed in the Annex.

2.   Paragraph 1 shall not oblige a Member State to refuse its own nationals entry into its territory.

3.   Paragraph 1 shall be without prejudice to cases where a Member State is bound by an obligation of international law, namely:

(a) as a host country to an international intergovernmental organisation;

(b) as a host country to an international conference convened by, or under the auspices of the United Nations;

(c) under a multilateral agreement conferring privileges and immunities; or

(d) under the 1929 Treaty of Conciliation (Lateran pact) concluded by the Holy See (State of the Vatican City) and Italy.

4.   Paragraph 3 shall also apply in cases where a Member State is host country to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

5.   The Council shall be duly informed in all cases where a Member State grants an exemption pursuant to paragraph 3 or 4.

6.   Member States may grant exemptions from the measures imposed under paragraph 1 where travel is justified on grounds of urgent humanitarian need, or on grounds of attendance at intergovernmental meetings, or those promoted or hosted by the Union or by a Member State holding the Chairmanship in office of the OSCE where a political dialogue is conducted that directly promotes the policy objectives of the restrictive measures, including support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

7.   A Member State wishing to grant an exemption pursuant to paragraph 6 shall notify the Council in writing. The exemption shall be deemed to be granted unless one or more of the Council members raises an objection in writing within two working days of receiving the notification of the proposed exemption. Where one or more of the Council members raise an objection, the Council, acting by qualified majority, may decide to grant the proposed exemption.

8.   Where, pursuant to paragraph 3, 4, 6 or 7, a Member State authorises the entry into, or transit through, its territory of a person listed in the Annex, the authorisation shall be limited to the purpose for which it is given to the person concerned.

Article 3

1.   All funds and economic resources belonging to, or owned, held or controlled by natural or legal persons, entities or bodies responsible for, supporting or involved in Iran’s UAV’s programme,,and by natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them, as listed in the Annex, shall be frozen.

2.   No funds or economic resources shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed in the Annex.

3.   By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, the competent authority of a Member State may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, or the making available of certain funds or economic resources, under such conditions as it deems appropriate, after having determined that the funds or economic resources concerned are:

(a) necessary to satisfy the basic needs of the natural persons listed in the Annex and dependent family members of such natural persons, including payments for foodstuffs, rent or mortgage, medicines and medical treatment, taxes, insurance premiums, and public utility charges;

(b) intended exclusively for the payment of reasonable professional fees and the reimbursement of incurred expenses associated with the provision of legal services;

(c) intended exclusively for the payment of fees or service charges for the routine holding or maintenance of frozen funds or economic resources;

(d) necessary for extraordinary expenses, provided that the competent authority has notified the competent authorities of the other Member States and the Commission of the grounds on which it considers that a specific authorisation should be granted, at least two weeks prior to the authorisation; or

(e) to be paid into or from an account belonging to a diplomatic mission, consular post or international organisation enjoying immunities in accordance with international law, insofar as such payments are intended to be used for official purposes of the diplomatic mission, consular post or international organisation.

The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under this paragraph within two weeks of that authorisation.

4.   By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the competent authorities of a Member States may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, or the making available of certain funds or economic resources, provided that the following conditions are met:

(a) the funds or economic resources are the subject of an arbitral decision rendered prior to the date on which the natural or legal person, entity or body referred to in paragraph 1 was listed in the Annex, or of a judicial or administrative decision rendered in the Union, or a judicial decision enforceable in the Member State concerned, prior to or after that date;

(b) the funds or economic resources will be used exclusively to satisfy claims secured by such a decision or recognised as valid in such a decision, within the limits set by applicable laws and regulations governing the rights of persons having such claims;

(c) the decision is not for the benefit of a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in the Annex; and

(d) recognition of the decision is not contrary to public policy in the Member State concerned.

The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under this paragraph within two weeks of that authorisation.

5.   Paragraph 1 shall not prevent a natural or legal person, entity or body listed in the Annex from making a payment due under a contract or agreement entered into, or an obligation that arose, prior to the date on which such natural or legal person, entity or body was listed therein, provided that the Member State concerned has determined that the payment is not, directly or indirectly, received by a natural or legal person, entity or body referred to in paragraph 1.

6.   Paragraph 2 shall not apply to the addition to frozen accounts of:

(a) interest or other earnings on those accounts;

(b) payments due under contracts, agreements or obligations that were concluded or arose prior to the date on which those accounts became subject to the measures provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2; or

(c) payments due under judicial, administrative or arbitral decisions rendered in the Union or enforceable in the Member State concerned;

provided that any such interest, other earnings and payments remain subject to the measures provided for in paragraph 1.

7.   The prohibition set out in paragraph 2 shall not apply to organisations and agencies which are pillar-assessed by the Union and with which the Union has signed a financial framework partnership agreement on the basis of which the organisations and agencies act as humanitarian partners of the Union, provided that the provision of the funds or economic resources referred to in paragraph 2 is necessary for exclusively humanitarian purposes in Iran.

8.   In cases not covered by paragraph 7, and by way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, the competent authorities of a Member State may grant specific or general authorisations, under such general or specific conditions as they deem appropriate, to release certain frozen funds or economic resources or to make available certain funds or economic resources, provided that the provision of such funds or economic resources is necessary for exclusively humanitarian purposes in Iran.

9   The prohibitions in Article 3(1) and (2) shall not apply until 27 October 2023 to obligations arising from a contract concluded before 26 July 2023, or ancillary contracts necessary for the execution of such a contract.

Article 4

1.   The Council, acting by unanimity upon a proposal from a Member State or from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’), shall establish and amend the list in the Annex.

2.   The Council shall communicate a decision pursuant to in paragraph 1, including the grounds for the listing, to the natural or legal person, entity or body concerned, either directly, if the address is known, or through the publication of a notice, providing such natural or legal person, entity or body with an opportunity to submit observations.

3.   Where observations are submitted, or where substantial new evidence is presented, the Council shall review the decision concerned and inform the natural or legal person, entity or body concerned accordingly.

Article 5

1.   The Annex shall include the grounds for listing the natural or legal persons, entities or bodies referred to in Articles 2 and 3.

2.   The Annex shall also contain, where available, the information necessary to identify the natural or legal persons, entities or bodies concerned. With regard to natural persons, such information may include names and aliases, date and place of birth, nationality, passport and identity card numbers, gender, address, if known; and function or profession. With regard to legal persons, entities or bodies, such information may include names, place and date of registration, registration number and place of business.

Article 6

1.   The Council and the High Representative shall process personal data in order to carry out their tasks under this Decision, in particular:

(a) as regards the Council, for preparing and making amendments to the Annex;

(b) as regards the High Representative, for preparing amendments to the Annex.

2.   The Council and the High Representative may process, where applicable, relevant data relating to criminal offences committed by listed natural persons, and to criminal convictions or security measures concerning such persons, only to the extent that such processing is necessary for the preparation of the Annex.

3.   For the purposes of this Decision, the Council and the High Representative are designated as ‘controller’ within the meaning of point (8) of Article 3 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council, in order to ensure that the natural persons concerned can exercise their rights under that Regulation.

Article 7

No claims in connection with any contract or transaction the performance of which has been affected, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by the measures imposed under this Decision, including claims for indemnity or any other claim of this type, such as a claim for compensation or a claim under a guarantee, in particular a claim for extension or payment of a bond, guarantee or indemnity, in particular a financial guarantee or financial indemnity, of whatever form, shall be satisfied, if they are made by:

(a) designated natural or legal persons, entities or bodies listed in the Annex;

(b) any natural or legal person, entity or body acting through or on behalf of one of the natural or legal persons, entities or bodies referred to in point (a).

Article 8

It shall be prohibited to participate, knowingly or intentionally, in activities the object or effect of which is to circumvent the prohibitions set out in this Decision.

Article 9

In order to maximise the impact of the measures set out in this Decision, the Union shall encourage third States to adopt restrictive measures similar to those provided for in this Decision.

Article 10

This Decision shall apply until 27 July 2024 and shall be kept under constant review. It shall be renewed, or amended as appropriate, if the Council deems that its objectives have not been met.

The exemption referred to in Article 3(7) in respect of Article 3(2) shall be reviewed at regular intervals and at least every 12 months.

Article 11

This Decision shall enter into force on the on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .

ANNEX

List of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies referred to in Article 3

A.

Natural persons Names (Transliteration into Latin script) Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing 1. Hadi ZAHOURIAN هادی ظهوریان (Farsi spelling) Position(s): Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shakad Sanat Asmari POB:Tehran, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: Male Passport number: 0055312047 (National ID) Associated entities: Shakad Sanat Asmari Hadi Zahourian is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shakad Sanat Asmari. Shakad Sanat Asmari (a.k.a. Chekad Sanat Faraz Asia) is an Iranian company that develops and manufactures components for the Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). As the CEO of Shakad Sanat Asmari, Hadi Zahourian is therefore supporting and involved in Iran’s UAV programme. 11.12.2023 2. Mohammad Shahab KHANIAN محمد شهاب خانیان (Farsi spelling) Position(s): Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shakad Sanat Asmari POB: Mashhad, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: Male Passport number: 0930588411 (National ID) Associated entities: Shakad Sanat Asmari Mohammad Shahab Khanian is Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shakad Sanat Asmari. Shakad Sanat Asmari (a.k.a. Chekad Sanat Faraz Asia) is an Iranian company that develops and manufactures components for the Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). As the Deputy CEO of Shakad Sanat Asmari, Mohammad Shahab Khanian is therefore supporting and involved in Iran’s UAV programme. 11.12.2023 3. Ehsan Rahat VARNOSFADRANI احسان راحت وارنوسفدرانی (Farsi spelling) Position(s): Chief scientist of Shakad Sanat Asmari DOB: 1983 POB: Bahman, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: Male Associated entities: Shakad Sanat Asmari Ehsan Rahat Varnosfadrani is the Chief scientist and former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shakad Sanat Asmari. Shakad Sanat Asmari (a.k.a. Chekad Sanat Faraz Asia) is an Iranian company that develops and manufactures components for the Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). As the Chief scientist and former CEO of Shakad Sanat Asmari, Ehsan Rahat Varnosfadrani is therefore supporting and involved in Iran’s UAV programme. 11.12.2023 4. Rahmatollah HEIDARI a.k.a. Rehmatollah HEIDARI رحمت الله حیدری (Farsi spelling) Position(s): Managing Director and member of the board of directors of Iran-based Baharestan Kish Company DOB: 22.9.1985 Nationality: Iranian Gender: Male Associated entities: Baharestan Kish Company; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Rahmatollah Heidari is the Managing Director and a member of the board of directors of Baharestan Kish Company. Baharestan Kish Company manufactures unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) components for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). As the Managing Director and a member of the board of directors of Baharestan Kish Company, Rahmatollah Heidari is therefore supporting and involved in Iran’s UAV programme. 11.12.2023 5. Nader Khoon SIAVASH نادر خون سیاوش (Farsi spelling) Position(s): Director of Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO) DOB: 30.4.1963 Nationality: Iranian Gender: Male Passport number: 0028892753 (National ID) Associated entities: Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO); Defence Industries Organization (DIO); Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Nader Khoon Siavash is the Director of Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO). AIO is an organisation which reports to the Iranian Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), and is active in Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programme. As Director of AIO, Nader Khoon Siavash is therefore supporting and involved in Iran’s UAV programme. 11.12.2023 6. Ehsan IMANINEJAD a.k.a. Ehsan IMANIJAD احسان ایمانی نژاد احسان ایمانی نژاد (Farsi spelling) Position(s): Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif DOB: 1982 POB: Shahrivar, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: Male Associated entities: Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif Ehsan Imaninejad is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif. Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif (a.k.a. Daria Fanavar Borhan Sharif) is an Iranian company that offers aerospace engineering services and manufactures parts of the Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). As CEO of Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif, Ehsan Imaninejad is therefore supporting and involved in Iran’s UAV programme. 11.12.2023

B.

Legal persons, entities and bodies Names (Transliteration into Latin script) Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing 1. Shakad Sanat Asmari a.k.a. Chekad Sanat Faraz Asia شکاد صنعت آسماری/چکاد صنعت فراز آسیا (Farsi spelling) Address: Tehran Province – District 18, Tehran City, Central Sector, Tehran City, Tehran Station Quarter, Afshar Nou Alley, Fadaiyan Islam St., No 841, 1st floor, postal code 1851617167 Type of entity: Limited Liability Company Place of registration: Tehran, Iran Date of registration: 2013 Principal place of business: Iran Associated individuals: Hadi Zahourian (Chief Executive Officer); Mohammad Shabab Khanian (Deputy Chief Executive Officer); Ehsan Rahat Varnosfadrani (Chief scientist and former Chief Executive Officer) Shakad Sanat Asmari (a.k.a. Chekad Sanat Faraz Asia) is an Iranian company that develops and manufactures components for the Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is therefore supporting and involved in Iran’s UAV programme. 11.12.2023 2. Baharestan Kish Company شرکت بهارستان کیش (Farsi spelling) Address no. 1: Unit 17, Fifth Floor, Yas Building, Number 116, Sheikh Fazlollah Highway, Teimuri Blvd, before Sharif University Metro Station, Tehran, Iran; Address no. 2: Unit 18, Fifth Floor, Yas Building, Number 116, Sheikh Fazlollah Highway, Teimuri Blvd, before Sharif University Metro Station, Tehran, Iran; Address no. 3: Unit 19, Fifth Floor, Yas Building, Number 116, Sheikh Fazlollah Highway, Teimuri Blvd, before Sharif University Metro Station, Tehran 1459994450, Iran; Address no. 4: No 47, East 18th Street, Farhang Boulevard, Sa’adat Abad, Tehran 1997857976, Iran; Address no. 5: Unit 2, First Floor, EX35, Number 2, Exhibition Industrial Town, Kish Island 7941659854, Iran; Place of registration:Iran Date of registration: 2002 Associated individuals: Rahmatollah Heidari (Managing Director and a member of the board of directors) Baharestan Kish Company manufactures unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) components for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The company has also worked on Shahed UAV components, which were exported to Russia. Baharestan Kish Company has overseen various defense-related projects, which included the manufacturing of UAVs. It is therefore supporting and involved in Iran’s UAV programme. 11.12.2023 3. Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif a.k.a. Daria Fanavar Borhan Sharif; Sadid Sazeh Parvaz Sharif سدید سازه پرواز شریف/داریا فن آور برهان شریف/شرکت سعد سازه فراز شریف (Farsi spelling) Address: Tehran Province – Tehran City – Central Sector – Tehran City – Shahrak Ansar Neighborhood – Tehran Karaj Highway – Chogan Street 9 – Plate 0 – Ground Floor Type of entity: Limited Liability Company Place of registration:Tehran, Iran Date of registration: 2017 Registration number: 534295 Principal place of business: Iran Associated individuals: Ehsan Imaninejad (Chief Executive Officer) Saad Sazeh Faraz Sharif is an Iranian company that offers aerospace engineering services and manufactures parts of the Shahed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is therefore supporting and involved in Iran’s UAV programme. 11.12.2023 4. Sarmad Electronic Sepahan Company a.k.a. Sarmad Electronics; Sarmad Electronic Sepahan; Sarmad Electronics Co. سدید سازه پرواز شریف/داریا فن آور برهان شریف/شرکت سعد سازه فراز شریف (Farsi spelling) Address: Second Floor, No 309, Alley 28, South Abou Na’im Street, Jaber Ansari Street, Isfahan, Iran; Place of registration: Iran Date of registration: 2014 Principal place of business: Iran Sarmad Electronic Sepahan Company is an Iranian company that produces the specific components used in Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Those UAVs are deployed by Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine. Servomotors and flowmotors in detached Iranian UAVs found on the Ukrainian battlefield have been traced back directly to Sarmad Electronic Sepahan Company. The company itself advertises its activities in Iran by claiming to be active in large sensitive industries in the country, including that of UAVs. It is therefore supporting and involved in Iran’s UAV programme. 11.12.2023 5. Kimia Part Sivan Company (KIPAS) a.k.a. Kimiar Parts Sibon شرکت کیمیا پارت سیوان (کیپس) (Farsi spelling) Address: 1st Street, 6th Side Street, No 81, Jey Industrial Park, Isfahan 8376100000, Iran; Place of registration: Iran Registration number: 10320661315 or 414950 or 47779. Kimia Part Sivan Company (KIPAS) is an Iran-based company that has worked with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force (IRGC-QF) to improve the force’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) programme. KIPAS officials have conducted UAV flight tests for the IRGC-QF and have provided technical assistance for IRGC-QF UAVs transferred to Iraq for use in IRGC-QF operations. KIPAS has also procured valuable UAV components for onward use by the IRGC. It is therefore supporting and involved in Iran’s UAV programme. 11.12.2023’

Initial text

Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 of 20 July 2023 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine	Official Journal of the European Union L186 of 25 July 2023, p. 20
Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/2792 of 11 December 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine	OJ L, 2023/2792, 11.12.2023