Written Ministerial Statement: Iran Sanctions, 8 September 2026
The Minister for the Middle East, Stephen Doughty MP, has provided a written update to parliament on Iran Sanctions measures.
Today we are laying legislation which will tackle Iranian nuclear activity and other hostile Iranian activity.
The lack of transparency around Iran’s nuclear programme has long posed a serious threat to international peace and security. We have repeatedly seen Iran not act in good faith to address these concerns. For over two decades, the international community has sought clarity and assurance about the nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran has expanded its nuclear programme in ways that lack any credible civilian justification. This includes Iran’s accumulation of over 400kg of uranium enriched to 60%. Iran is the only country without nuclear weapons to enrich uranium to this level.
The UK complied with its UN obligations to implement the snapback of UN Iran sanctions on 1 October 2025 when the Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 came into force. The UK went further and designated 71 individuals and entities in sectors that have links to Iran’s nuclear programme, including financial institutions and energy companies.
As my predecessor set out in a written ministerial statement to the House of 13 October 2025, and also in their oral statement to the House on 13 January 2026, the UK will now introduce legislation to impose further sectoral measures on Iran. Today, I am laying in the House ‘The Iran (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026’, through which the Government is amending both The Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023 and The Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
These Regulations introduce sectoral measures which are broadly those lifted as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Today’s legislation therefore doubles down on our action to constrain Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Financial measures will further reduce the Government of Iran’s ability to access the UK financial system and raise funds in support of its nuclear programme. Trade prohibitions against Iran are expanded under this legislation to additional goods, technology and services, including those key to significant industries contributing to Iranian nuclear escalation, such as energy, software, metals, gold, and related activities such as shipping, insurance and banking. The export of additional goods and technology key to Iran’s conventional weapons and nuclear capabilities are also prohibited. In addition, to bolster our existing designations and the termination of our bilateral air services arrangements in 2024, Iranian aircraft will be prohibited from landing in the UK unless certain exemptions apply.
The legislation will further expand our powers to sanction ships – strengthening our ability to target ships enabling and facilitating Iran’s nuclear programme and malign and destabilising behaviour.
As part of the UK’s responsible approach to the use of sanctions, this legislation (like all sanctions legislation) includes carefully-designed sanctions mitigations.
This will include general licences to enable the continued operation of the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan, which provides critical energy supplies to our European partners. This is a continuation of long-standing policy and aligns us with the EU and US who have similar carveouts for activities related to Shah Deniz.
Through these measures, the Government will uphold its commitment to ensuring that Iran is never able to acquire a nuclear weapon, and will strengthen sanctions that reduce Iranian hostile capabilities.
Iran’s nuclear programme has long been a serious concern to the international community. Iran remains in significant non-compliance with their international safeguards obligations.
A negotiated outcome is the only long-term solution to the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear programme. We remain fully committed to a lasting and sustainable diplomatic solution that ensures Iran never develops a nuclear weapon.