UK Lays New Sanctions Regulations Targeting Iran's Financial System, Bans Iranian Aircraft

Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty laid 'The Iran (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026' before Parliament, amending the UK's existing Iran sanctions regimes and going beyond the UN snapback measures the UK implemented on October 1, 2025. The new regulations restrict Iran's access to the UK financial system and its ability to raise funds, expand trade prohibitions to additional goods, technology and services tied to nuclear escalation — including energy, software, metals, gold, shipping, insurance and banking — and ban Iranian aircraft from landing in the UK, with limited exemptions. The statement also expands UK powers to sanction ships facilitating Iran's nuclear program. Doughty said the measures 'double down on our action to constrain Iran's nuclear ambitions,' citing Iran's roughly 400 kg stockpile enriched to 60% as unparalleled among non-nuclear-weapons states. The measures take effect September 29, 2026, and include a general licence preserving Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz gas field operations, in line with EU and US policy.