The UK Government has laid new legislation imposing sweeping sanctions on Iran, including a ban on Iranian aircraft landing in Britain and expanded restrictions covering finance, energy, software, metals, gold, shipping, insurance and banking.
The Iran (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 were laid before Parliament on Tuesday as ministers moved to restore broad sectoral restrictions previously lifted as part of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement.
Minister of State Stephen Doughty said the measures were intended to constrain Iran's nuclear ambitions and reduce its ability to fund activities the Government considers hostile and destabilising.
Iranian aircraft to be prohibited from landing in UK
One of the most visible elements of the new regime is a prohibition on Iranian aircraft landing in the UK, subject to specified exemptions.
The Government said the restriction builds on the termination of bilateral air services arrangements with Iran in 2024 and complements existing sanctions designations.
The legislation will also expand Britain's powers to sanction ships, allowing the Government to target vessels it says are enabling or facilitating Iran's nuclear programme or other malign and destabilising activity.
New restrictions target major Iranian industries
The regulations substantially expand Britain's trade restrictions against Iran.
Additional prohibitions will cover goods, technology and services connected to significant sectors of the Iranian economy, including energy, software, metals and gold.
Related activities including shipping, insurance and banking will also face restrictions, while exports of additional goods and technology considered important to Iran's conventional weapons and nuclear capabilities will be prohibited.
Further financial measures are intended to reduce the Iranian Government's ability to access the UK financial system and raise funds that Britain says could support its nuclear programme.
UK restores restrictions lifted under 2015 nuclear deal
The Government said the new sectoral measures are broadly those that were lifted as part of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the 2015 international agreement intended to restrict Iran's nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.
Britain implemented the snapback of United Nations sanctions on Iran on 1 October 2025 and subsequently designated 71 individuals and entities in sectors linked to the country's nuclear programme, including financial institutions and energy companies.
Tuesday's legislation represents a further expansion beyond those individual designations by restoring restrictions across entire sectors of the Iranian economy.
Government cites uranium enriched to 60%
Doughty told Parliament that Iran had accumulated more than 400kg of uranium enriched to 60%.
The Government says Iran is the only state without nuclear weapons enriching uranium to that level and argues that the scale of the programme lacks a credible civilian justification.
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes.
Shah Deniz gas field receives exemption
The sanctions package includes mitigations and licensing arrangements intended to limit unintended consequences.
General licences will permit continued operations connected with the Shah Deniz gas field in Azerbaijan because of its importance to European energy supplies.
The Government said the exemption continues longstanding UK policy and aligns Britain with similar carve-outs maintained by the United States and European Union.
Ministers say diplomatic solution remains goal
Despite the tougher sanctions, the Government said a negotiated settlement remained the only long-term solution to concerns surrounding Iran's nuclear programme.
Doughty said Britain remained committed to a lasting diplomatic outcome ensuring that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon.
The measures nevertheless mark a significant tightening of Britain's Iran sanctions regime, moving beyond targeted individuals and organisations to restrictions affecting major areas of trade, finance and transport.