Aktualisierte Sanktionsmeldung: Islamische Republik Iran
AI Analysis
This FINMA publication announces updates to Annexes 12 and 14 of the Swiss Ordinance on Measures against the Islamic Republic of Iran (SR 946.231.143.6), effective April 14, 2026, reflecting changes to the SECO Sanctions Management (SESAM) database by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). It matters because Swiss financial intermediaries must immediately freeze assets of newly or amended sanctioned entities and report to SECO, while continuing AML due diligence under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (GwG), to avoid supervisory enforcement.[User Query]
Key dates
- 13 April 2026
- - WBF publishes changes to Annexes 12 and 14 and updates SESAM database.
- 14 April 2026, 23:00 UTC
- - Changes enter into force; asset freezes and prohibitions become mandatory.
Suggested considerations
- Screen client portfolios, accounts, and transactions against the updated SESAM database and Annexes 12/14 immediately.
- Freeze assets of any newly sanctioned or amended persons/entities without delay.
- Report all affected business relationships to SECO promptly.
- Conduct enhanced due diligence under GwG Art. 6 for any suspicion; if unresolved, file a suspicious activity report (SAR) with MROS under GwG Art. 9.
- Monitor FINMA's MyFINMA portal and website for ongoing updates; update internal sanctions screening systems.[User Query]
What changed
- - Amendments to Annexes 12 and 14 of the Ordinance SR 946.231.143.6, updating the list of sanctioned persons, companies, and organizations in the context of Iran sanctions.[User Query]
- Updates propagated to the SESAM database, published on the WBF/SECO website.[User Query]
- Standard requirements reiterated: Implement prohibitions, freeze assets of sanctioned parties, and report affected business relationships to SECO; SECO reporting does not exempt additional GwG Art. 6 inquiries or Art. 9 suspicious activity reports to
Compliance impact
Urgency: High – Effective immediately (as of April 14, 2026, 23:00 UTC), non-compliance risks FINMA coercive measures under administrative law, including fines, supervisory proceedings, or license revocation. Matters due to frequent Iran sanctions updates (e.g., prior changes in March 2026, October 2025), heightened geopolitical risks post-2015 JCPOA unwind, and dual SECO/MROS reporting obligation
Who is affected
Related regulations
References
AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original FINMA source before acting. Full disclaimer.
What the FINMA said
Das Eidgenössische Departement für Wirtschaft, Bildung und Forschung WBF hat eine Änderung der Anhänge 12 und 14 der Verordnung vom 12. Dezember 2025 über Massnahmen gegenüber der Islamischen Republik Iran (SR 946.231.143.6) publiziert.
Published by FINMA . Read the full notice at the source for the authoritative text.