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🇨🇭 FINMA Regulatory Notice critical

Totalrevision der Verordnung über Massnahmen gegenüber der Islamischen Republik Iran

| Switzerland

AI Analysis

Switzerland has completely revised its Iran sanctions regulations effective December 12, 2025, restoring sanctions to pre-2015 levels following the automatic reinstatement of UN Security Council resolutions on September 28, 2025. This comprehensive overhaul requires Swiss financial institutions and businesses to immediately implement expanded asset freezes, trade restrictions, and sectoral prohibitions affecting Iran-related transactions and designated persons.

Key dates

September 28, 2025
- UN Security Council resolutions automatically reinstated (snapback mechanism triggered)
September 29, 2025
- EU reactivated suspended sanctions on Iran's proliferation activities
October 20, 2025
- Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) updated SESAM sanctions database with reinstated listings
October 21, 2025
- Updated sanctions list effective (23:00 UTC)
December 12, 2025
- Complete revision of Iran sanctions ordinance (SR 946.231.143.6) entered into force (23:00 UTC)
January 1, 2026 Deadline
- Deadline for completing performance of contracts concluded before September 30, 2025 (legacy contract exemption expires)

Suggested considerations

  • *Immediate (Completed by December 12, 2025):
  • related transactions and accounts for compliance with expanded prohibitions
  • *Short-term (By January 1, 2026):
  • September 30, 2025 contracts under legacy exemption provisions
  • related transactions

What changed

  • The total revision introduces several critical regulatory shifts: Scope Expansion: The revised ordinance restores seven previously suspended UN Security Council resolutions (1696, 1737, 1747, 1803, 1835, 1929, and 2224) and aligns Swiss sanctions wi
  • Sale or supply of key energy sector equipment
  • Gold, precious metals, and diamonds transactions
  • Specific maritime equipment
  • Designated software exports
  • Iranian currency banknote exports Financial & Transportation Sanctions: Reinstated prohibitions prevent direct or indirect provision of funds or resources to listed persons, organizations, or entities, with restrictions on SWIFT communication for de

Compliance impact

Urgency: CRITICAL

Who is affected

  • *Primary: Swiss banks, financial intermediaries, and payment service providers managing Iran-related accounts or transactions
  • *Secondary:
  • Trading companies and exporters of controlled goods (energy equipment, precious metals, software)
  • Insurance and transportation providers handling Iran-related shipments
  • Investment managers with Iran exposure
  • Compliance and sanctions screening departments across all financial institutions
  • border transactions.6
  • EU Regulation (EU) 2025/1975
  • September 30, 2025 contracts (performance deadline January 1, 2026)6
  • SECO SESAM Database
  • Snapback Mechanism

References

AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original FINMA source before acting. Full disclaimer.

What the FINMA said

Der Bundesrat hat am 12. Dezember 2025 beschlossen, die Iran-Sanktionen dem Stand von vor dem Abschluss des Wiener Abkommens über das iranische Atomprogramm anzupassen. Dazu hat er die Verordnung über Massnahmen gegenüber der Islamischen Republik Iran einer Totalrevision unterzogen. Die neue Verordnung (SR…

Extract from FINMA . Read the full notice at the source for the authoritative text.

Sectors

Banking & CreditPayments & E-MoneyCapital Markets & Trading

Topics

AML / Financial CrimeReporting & DisclosureOperational Resilience / Outsourcing

Relevant Firm Types

BankPayment Provider
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