Turkey has frozen the assets of a large number of individuals and entities connected to the Iranian regime’s nuclear activities. This move came following the activation of the “snapback” mechanism and in coordination with United Nations sanctions aimed at pressuring Tehran over its nuclear program.
This decision, issued on Wednesday, October 1, by an executive decree from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, targets individuals and organizations involved in the Iranian regime’s nuclear development program, including shipping companies, energy firms, and research centers.
The move follows the reinstatement of United Nations sanctions. On Wednesday, Western powers including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom announced the reimposition of UN sanctions on Tehran, along with new sanctions targeting the Iranian regime’s nuclear and missile programs.
United States Imposes New Sanctions On 18 Individuals and Entities Linked to Iran’s Regime
Who is on Turkey’s blacklist?
The asset freeze in Turkey applies to individuals and companies across various sectors, including Iran’s nuclear facilities, shipping companies, energy firms, and research centers.
Among the targeted entities are the Iranian regime’s Atomic Energy Organization, Bank Sepah, Bank Sepah International, the Isfahan Nuclear Fuel Research and Production Center, the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center, the Karaj Nuclear Research Center, the Agricultural and Medical Nuclear Research Center, Iran–India Shipping Company, Novin Energy Company, Pars Tarash Company, Jaber ibn Hayan Company, Pioneer Energy Industries Company, and the Southern Iran Shipping Lines.
The list of individuals whose assets have been frozen in Turkey includes Bahman Asgarpour, Mohammad Fadaei Ashiani, Abbas Rezaei Ashtiani, Haleh Bakhtiar, Morteza Behzad, Hossein Hosseini, and others.
These sanctions by Turkey come as Iranian regime president Masoud Pezeshkian stated on Tuesday, September 30, that in response to the snapback mechanism and reinstatement of UN sanctions, the regime must prioritize “expanding trade with neighboring countries.”
Return of sanctions following the snapback
In recent days, since the activation of the snapback mechanism, the United States and its allies have emphasized the reinstatement of United Nations sanctions.
On Wednesday, October 1, Canada announced that it had reimposed United Nations sanctions against the Iranian regime following the activation of the snapback by three European countries, citing Tehran’s ongoing nuclear proliferation activities and violations of international commitments.
The sanctions reimposed by Ottawa include broad bans on the export and import of nuclear, missile, and dual-use equipment; prohibitions on providing technical and financial assistance in these fields; a comprehensive arms embargo; and a ban on servicing Iranian ships.
At the same time, the UK Foreign Office announced that under the snapback mechanism and reinstatement of UN sanctions, it had reapplied sanctions against 121 individuals and entities linked to the Iranian regime’s nuclear and missile programs.
On Wednesday, the US Treasury Department also announced it had added 21 entities and 17 individuals linked to the Iranian regime’s weapons supply networks to its sanctions list.
Even before the snapback, in July of this year, the US Treasury had announced sanctions on 22 companies and entities, including firms based in Turkey, for their role in evading sanctions and financing the Iranian regime’s oil sales in favor of the IRGC’s Quds Force.
