The EU has reinstated sanctions against Iran, banning trade in steel and metals

The European Union has officially reinstated sanctions against Iran, imposing strict restrictions on trade in steel and other metals. The decision was published in the Official Journal of the EU and came into force on September 30, 2025.

The new measures include a complete ban on the sale, supply, transfer, or export of graphite, as well as unprocessed metals and semi-finished products, in particular aluminum and steel products, to Iranian companies or for use in Iran. Imports of these materials from Iran to the EU are also prohibited.

At the same time, the regulation provides for a transition period: contracts signed before September 30, 2025, may be fulfilled, but only until January 1, 2026. After that date, all deliveries will cease.

The scope of the restrictions goes far beyond physical trade. The sanctions also apply to financing, insurance, brokerage services, and technical assistance related to steel and other metal products.

The European Council emphasized that metals can contribute to the development of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programs, as well as strengthen industries controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Therefore, their export to the country is considered a direct security risk.

According to customs statistics, in July 2025, imports of slabs from Iran to the EU amounted to 22.6 thousand tons, while a year earlier there were none. The new rules effectively put an end to official trade in semi-finished steel products between Europe and Iran.

The EU has previously imposed large-scale sanctions against Iran. In 2010, a decision was made to restrict the financial sector and ban trade in oil, petrochemical products, and a number of metals, including steel and aluminum. These measures were among the toughest in relations between the EU and Tehran. In 2015, after the conclusion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), some restrictions were lifted, but in subsequent years they were repeatedly reinstated due to violations by Iran.

It should be noted that Iran is one of the world’s ten largest steel producers. In January-August 2025, the country produced 19.8 million tons of steel, which is 3.6% less than in the same period in 2024.