Council Regulation (EU) 2024/2897

Contents

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 215 thereof,Having regard to Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2894 of 18 November 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532 concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region^note,Having regard to the joint proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission,Whereas:

(1)On 20 July 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532^note and Regulation (EU) 2023/1529^note, concerning restrictive measures in view of Iran’s military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region.

(2)On 18 November 2024, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2024/2894, which amended Decision (CFSP) 2023/1532. In view of Iran’s continued military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and in particular Iran’s supply of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and missiles to Russia, Decision (CFSP) 2024/2894 introduces further restrictive measures.

(3)The measures introduce a prohibition on the export, sale, transfer or supply from the Union to Iran of further components used in the development and production of UAVs and of components used in the development and production of missiles.

(4)In addition, the measures introduce a transaction ban prohibiting any transaction with ports and locks that are owned, operated or controlled by listed natural or legal persons, entities and bodies or are used for the transfer of Iranian UAVs or missiles or related technology or components thereof to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine. That includes access to facilities of the listed ports and locks and the provision of any services to vessels. An exemption for maritime safety is included.

(5)It is also appropriate to amend the listing criteria and provide for targeted exceptions.

(6)The measures provided for in this Regulation fall within the scope of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. Therefore, in particular with a view to ensuring their uniform application in all Member States, regulatory action at the level of the Union is necessary.

(7)This Regulation should enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union in order not to jeopardise the effectiveness of the measures set out therein.

(8)Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1 #

Regulation (EU) 2023/1529 is amended as follows:

(1)in Article 2, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:‘1.It shall be prohibited to sell, supply, transfer or export, directly or indirectly, goods and technology which might contribute to Iran’s capability to manufacture Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or missiles as listed in Annex II, whether or not originating in the Union, to any natural or legal person, entity or body in Iran or for use in Iran.The transit via the territory of Iran of the goods and technology, as referred to in the first subparagraph, exported from the Union, shall be prohibited.’;

(2)the following article is inserted:‘Article 2a1.It shall be prohibited to engage in any transaction, directly or indirectly, with ports and locks listed in Annex IV.2.Annex IV shall include ports and locks that are:

(a)owned, operated or controlled by any natural or legal person, entity or body listed in Annex III;

(b)owned, operated, or controlled by a legal person, entity or body whose proprietary rights are directly or indirectly owned for 50 % or more by an entity listed in Annex III;

(c)owned, operated or controlled by a natural or legal person, entity or body acting on behalf or at the direction of an entity referred to in point (a) or (b) of this paragraph; or

(d)used for the transfer of Iranian UAVs or missiles or related technologies or components thereof to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine.

3.Paragraph 1 shall not apply in the case of a vessel in need of assistance seeking a place of refuge, of an emergency port call for reasons of maritime safety, or for saving life at sea, or for humanitarian purposes, or for the urgent prevention or mitigation of an event likely to have a serious and significant impact on human health and safety or the environment, or as a response to natural disasters.’;

(3)in Article 3, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:‘1.All funds and economic resources belonging to, or owned, held or controlled by natural or legal persons, entities or bodies:

(a)responsible for, supporting or involved in Iran’s UAV or missile programme;

(b)supplying, selling or otherwise involved in transferring Iran’s UAVs or missiles or related technologies or components thereof:

(i)to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine;

(ii)to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region;

(iii)to natural or legal persons, entities or bodies acting in breach of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2216 (2015); or,

(c)associated with natural or legal persons, entities or bodies referred to in point (a) or (b);

as listed in Annex III, shall be frozen.’;

(4)the following article is inserted:‘Article 3ca1.By way of derogation from Article 3 of this Regulation, the competent authorities may authorise the making available of certain funds or economic resources to entities listed under entry numbers 10, 11 and 12 in Annex III to this Regulation, under such conditions as the competent authorities deem appropriate and after having determined that such funds or economic resources are necessary for ground handling services as defined in Article 3, point (23), of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council^note.2.By way of derogation from Article 3, the competent authorities may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, or the making available of certain funds or economic resources, under such conditions as they deem appropriate, after having determined that the funds or economic resources are necessary to deal with critical and clearly identified air safety matters and after prior consultation of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.3.The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisations granted under this Article within 2 weeks of such authorisation.

(5)the following Article is inserted:‘Article 3f1.Article 3 shall not apply to funds or economic resources that are needed for:

(a)humanitarian purposes, the evacuation or repatriation of persons, or initiatives providing support to victims of natural, nuclear or chemical disasters;

(b)the operation of flights required for attending meetings with the objective of seeking a solution to the Iranian military support to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities in the Middle East and the Red Sea region, or of promoting the policy objectives of the restrictive measures;

(c)an emergency landing, take-off or overflight, or

(d)travel for official purposes of members of the diplomatic or consular missions of Member States in Iran or of international organisations enjoying immunities in accordance with international law.

2.Natural and legal persons, entities and bodies shall inform the competent authority of the Member State where they are resident, located, established or incorporated of the making available of funds or economic resources pursuant to paragraph 1 within 2 weeks of their being made available. The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any information received under this paragraph within 2 weeks of its receipt.’;

(6)Article 4 is deleted;

(7)Annex II is amended in accordance with Annex I to this Regulation;

(8)Annex IV is added in accordance with Annex II to this Regulation.

	Name	Grounds for inclusion	Date of application
1.	Amirabad Port, Iran	Article 2a(1), point (d): used for the transfer of Iranian UAVs or missiles or related technologies or components thereof to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine	18.11.2024
2.	Anzali Port, Iran	Article 2a(1), point (d): used for the transfer of Iranian UAVs or missiles or related technologies or components thereof to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine	18.11.2024’

Council Regulation (EU) 2024/2897

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Article 2 #

Annex I

Annex II

Annex IV · List of ports and locks as referred to in Article 2a

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Article 2#

Annex I

Annex II

Annex IV · List of ports and locks as referred to in Article 2a

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Article 2 #