Briefing Summary

Navigating Iranian Sanctions Risk Exposure

The conflict in the Middle East is reshaping the sanctions landscape — and how it develops will directly determine the future of Iranian sanctions enforcement. A swift resolution may reduce pressure on Iran's finances, but a protracted war or inconclusive stalemate is likely to make existing restrictions all the more compelling as the Iranian regime seeks to rebuild its international networks. This briefing is designed to help businesses understand the Iranian sanctions landscape as it stands now — and what that means for their operations.

‍

What's Inside

• Background to the Iranian sanctions landscape, from the 1979 Revolution and the 2006 UNSC resolutions through to the 2025 UN snapback and the reimposition of arms embargoes, travel bans, and asset freezes
• A breakdown of how Iranian government structures, the IRGC, and associated proxy networks use front companies and layered ownership structures to conceal their activities and evade sanctions and why these networks are extremely difficult to detect
• Two real-world case studies mapped using Themis Search: the Bank Melli shadow banking network, which processed billions in transactions for the NIOC and the Central Bank of Iran, and the Zarringhalam network, which laundered billions through Iranian exchange houses and offshore front companies to acquire missile technology
• A jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction guide to active sanctions programmes across the US, EU, UK, and GCC — including the 50% ownership rule, secondary sanctions, and the extraterritorial reach of US dollar transactions
• Practical steps organisations can take now, from continuous screening against permanently updated sanctions lists to deep-dive beneficial ownership tracing and supply chain risk intelligence

‍

Additional Download

Quick Reference Guide

A practical Iran sanctions compliance guide covering legal requirements, penalties, and obligations across 12 jurisdictions including the UK, UAE, and GCC. Includes a country-by-country breakdown and guidance on how to act now.