US Sanctions on Iran
History and Impact on India's Energy Trade
The United States has maintained an extensive sanctions regime against Iran, targeting its nuclear programme, ballistic missile development, support for militant groups, and human rights record. The key legislative framework includes the Iran Sanctions Act (1996), Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA, 2017), and executive orders under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, 2015) — the Iran nuclear deal — temporarily lifted many sanctions, enabling India's Iranian oil imports to peak at 22.1 million tonnes in 2017-18. When the US withdrew from JCPOA in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions, India's imports fell sharply — and ceased entirely in May 2019 when waivers expired.
- JCPOA signatories: Iran, US, UK, France, Germany, Russia, China, EU (adopted October 2015).
- US withdrawal from JCPOA: May 8, 2018 (Trump administration); sanctions reimposed November 2018.
- India's Iranian crude imports: fell from 22.1 MT (2017-18) to near-zero by May 2019.
- CAATSA secondary sanctions: non-US entities facilitating Iranian oil transactions face US financial system exclusion — a powerful deterrent for Indian banks, shippers, and insurers.
- "Maximum pressure" campaign (2019-2020): US designations extended to Iran's financial sector, making even rupee-denominated transactions risky.
- 2026 context: US temporarily eased sanctions to allow LPG purchases — likely tied to broader diplomatic manoeuvring around the West Asia conflict.
● Tracked since March 25, 2026 · last seen June 26, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes