Foundation for Defense of Democracies

The 1979 hostage crisis prompted the U.S. to impose its first set of sanctions against Iran. Since then, the United States has imposed a series of sanctions against Iran through both executive orders and acts of Congress. 

Existing Sanctions

 

Executive Order 12170
Issued on November 14, 1979 by President Carter, Executive Order 12170 froze all Iranian assets held in the US, held by the government of Iran and the Central Bank of Iran.

Executive Order 12205
Enacted on April 7, 1980, Executive Order 12205 prohibited commercial trade with Iran with the exception of food, medical supplies, and donations of clothing.

Executive Order 12211
Executive Order 12211, issued on April 17, 1980, prohibited the import of Iranian goods or services into the United States and financial transactions supporting travel to Iran.

Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act of 1992
The Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act provided new restrictions on exports including a ban on foreign military sales and export licenses to military equipment for export to Iran. The legislation also gave the President the power to levy sanctions against any person or country who participates in the transfer of sensitive items to Iran.

Executive Order 12957
Signed by President Bill Clinton on March 17, 1995, Executive Order 12957 prohibited transactions that aided Iran in the development of its petroleum resources.

Executive Order 12959
Executive Order 12959, issued on May 6, 1995, prohibited the reexportation of any goods or technology to Iran subject to an export license, as well as any investment in anything owned or controlled by the government of Iran.

Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996
The Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 (ILSA) became the Iran Sanctions Act in 2006 when Libya was removed from the bill's consideration. The legislation linked Iran's energy sector with its support for terrorism and nuclear weapons development by giving the President the authority to levy sanctions against any person who invests in Iran's petroleum resources.

Executive Order 13059
President Clinton issued Executive Order 13059 on August 19, 1997 clarified Executive Orders 12957 and 12959. In this order, the President reiterated that virtually all trade and investment with Iran was prohibited.

Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010
Signed into law by President Obama on July 1, 2010, the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act requires the president to impose sanctions on Iran's entire refined petroleum supply chain. The bill prohibits the sale of technology, goods and services to Iran's oil and natural gas industry, prevents the U.S. government from awarding contracts to companies that do business in Iran, and targets energy-related joint ventures, investments, and partnerships involving Iranian entities. The president can waive sanctions under certain conditions.

Executive Order (September 28, 2010)
President Obama signed this Executive Order on September 28, 2010 designating Iranian officials connected to gross human rights abuses in Iran.

Eexcutive Order 13590 (November 21, 2011)

President Obama signed this Executive Order on November 21, 2011 targeting assistance to Iran's upstream oil and gas activities. The order imposes sanctions on involvement in Iran's petrochemical industry.

FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (December 31, 2011)

Signed into law by President Obama on December 31, 2011, the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act expanded U.S. sanctions against the Central Bank of Iran.

Executive Order 13599 (February 5, 2012)

President Obama signed this Executive Order in February 2012 to block property of Iranian government and financial institutions in the United States, including the Central Bank of Iran

Executive Order (April 23, 2012)

President Obama signed this Executive Order on April 23, 2012 imposing sanctions on those who provide technology to help the Syrian and Iranian governments carry out human-rights abuses.