The ordinance amendment adopted by the Federal Council on 4 July 2012 contains a ban on supplying equipment to the Iranian petrochemical industry, a ban on financing in this domain, a ban on the purchase and sale of precious metals and diamonds by Iranian state authorities, a ban on the supply of equipment that could be used in internet or telecommunications surveillance and an extension of the obligation to obtain authorisation for the transfer of funds to cash transactions. The current lists of dual-use goods whose export to Iran is prohibited or subject to authorisation have been modified. Financial sanctions have been imposed against 78 individuals accused of serious human rights violations.

The import, purchase, sale and shipment of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and petrochemical products as well as related financial and insurance transactions must be declared to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO. Transactions of this kind have been banned in the EU since 1 July 2012. Switzerland has imported no crude oil from Iran since 2006. The Federal Council may decide to take further measures based on reports received. SECO must now also be notified of the supply of new bank notes and coins to the Iranian Central Bank.

Switzerland has applied all binding international sanctions imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council since 2007. In addition to adopting UN sanctions, Switzerland has, since 19 January 2011, also adopted most of the further reaching sanctions adopted by the EU.

Address for enquiries:

Publisher:

The Federal Council

Internet: http://www.admin.ch/br/index.html?lang=en

Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research

Internet: http://www.wbf.admin.ch