Financial Sanctions: Iran (Nuclear Proliferation)

This news release is issued in respect of the restrictive measures against Iran.

The Council of the European Union has amended Annexes VIII and IX to Council Regulation (EU) No. 267/2012 ("the 2012 Regulation") with effect from 3 August 2012.

Annex VIII to the 2012 Regulation lists the persons, bodies and entities that are designated by the United Nations Security Council or by the Sanctions Committee established pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1737 (2006).

Annex IX to the 2012 Regulation lists persons, entities and bodies identified by the Council under Article 23(2) of that Regulation as subject to the financial sanctions imposed by the Regulation.

Five individuals have been deleted from Annex IX to the 2012 Regulation, and six existing entries have been amended. Three entries are moved from Annex IX to Annex VIII, reflecting the decision by the Sanctions Committee to designate two individuals and one entity previously listed by the European Union.

The individuals deleted from Annex IX are therefore no longer subject to the asset freeze imposed by the 2012 Regulation.

Financial institutions and other persons are requested to check whether they maintain any accounts or otherwise hold funds or economic resources for, or provide financial services to, the designated persons and entities. If so, they must freeze such accounts or other funds and, unless licensed by the Treasury, refrain from dealing with said funds or economic resources, and suspend the provision of any financial services. They must report their findings to the Sanctions Officer at the Customs and Excise Division of the Treasury. Where a relevant institution has already reported details of accounts, other funds or economic resources held frozen for the designated persons and entities they are not required to report these details again.

DELETIONS

Individuals

AZIZI, Ahmad

Title: Dr

Position: Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Melli Bank PLC

Other Information: EU listing. Not UN

Group ID: 12227

DIVANDARI, Ali

a.k.a.: DAVANDARI, Ali

Position: Head of Bank Mellat

Other Information: EU listing. Not UN

Group ID: 11161

HEMMATI, Abdolnaser

Title: Dr

Position: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Banque Sina

Other Information: EU listing. Not UN

Group ID: 12233

MESKARIAN, Mohammad, Reza

Position: London Chief Executive Officer of Persia International Bank

Other Information: EU listing. Not UN

Group ID: 12239

ZAVVAR, S

Position: Acting General Manager in Dubai of Persia International Bank

Other Information: EU listing. Not UN

Group ID: 12248

AMENDMENTS

Deleted information appears in square brackets [ ]. Additional information appears in italics.

Individuals

AGHAJANI, Azim

a.k.a.: ADHAJANI, Azim

Nationality: Iran

Passport Details:

1. 6620505
2. 9003213

Other Information: UN Ref I.AC.60.18.04.12. Previous EU listing. [EU listing. Not UN.] Member of the IRGC-Qods Force operating under the direction of Qods Force Commander Major General Qasem Soleimani. Facilitated a breach of para 5 of UNSCR 1747 (2007)

Group ID: 12274

TABATABAEI, Ali, Akbar

DOB: --/--/1967

a.k.a.: TAHMAESEBI, Sayed, Akbar

Nationality: Iran

Other Information: UN Ref I.AC.50,18.04.12. Previous EU listing. [EU listing. Not UN.] Member of the IRGC-Qods Force operating under the direction of Qods Force Commander Major General Qasem Soleimani. Facilitated a breach of para 5 of UNSCR 1747 (2007).

Group ID: 12276

Entities

BANK MELLI IRAN ZAO [BANK MELLI IRAN (RUSSIA)]

a.k.a.: Mir Business Bank

Address:

1. Mashkova St, 9/1 Moscow, Russia, 105062
2. No 9/1, Ulitsa Mashkova, Moscow, Russia, 130064

Other Information: EU listing. Not UN. Owned by Bank Melli

Group ID: 10649

BANK TEJARAT

Address: Taleghani Br. 130, Taleghani Ave., PO Box 11365-5416, Tehran, Iran

Other Information: EU listing. Not UN. Tel 88826690. Tlx 226641 TJTA IR. Fax 88893641. Website www.tejaratbank.ir. Partly state owned bank. Directly facilitated Iran's nuclear efforts. Has a history of assisting designated Iranian banks in circumventing international sanctions.

Group ID: 12459

BEHINEH TRADING CO

Address: Tavakoli Building, Opposite 15th Alley, Emam-Jomeh Street, Tehran, Iran

Other Information: UN Ref E.AC.50.18.04.12. Previous EU listing. [EU listing. Not UN.] Tel +98 919 538 2305. Website www.behinehco.ir. Iranian company that played a key role in Iran's illicit transfer of arms to West Africa and acted on behalf of IRGC Qods Force as the shipper of the weapons consignment.

Group ID: 12251

MELLI BANK PLC

Address: London Wall, 11th Floor, London, United Kingdom, EC2Y 5EA

Other Information: EU listing. Not UN. Owned by Bank Melli

Group ID: 10650

MOBIN SANJESH

a.k.a.: FITCO

Address: [Entry] Entrance 3, No 11 [Road] 12th Street, Miremad Alley, Abbas Abad, Tehran

Other Information: EU listing. Not UN. Involved in purchasing equipment and materials which have direct applications in the Iranian nuclear programme.

Group ID: 12261

NEKA NOVIN

a.k.a.: Niksa Nirou

Address: Unit 7, No 12, 13th Street, Mir-Emad St, Motahary Avenue, Tehran, 15875-6653

Other Information: EU listing. Not UN. Involved in procurement of specialist equipment and materials that have direct application in Iranian nuclear programme.

Group ID: 11540

SHAHID BEHESHTI UNIVERSITY

Address: Daneshju Blvd, Yaman St, Chamran Blvd, PO Box 19839-63113, Tehran, Iran

Other Information: EU listing. Not UN. Owned or controlled by MODAFL. Carries out scientific research [on nuclear weapons] in relation to the development of nuclear weapons

Group ID: 11955

Further details of the sanctions regime related to Iran and links to the Consolidated List of individuals and entities subject to other financial sanctions regimes may be found on the Customs and Excise pages of the Isle of Man Government website.