On 23 December 2006, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1737 (2006) (UNSCR 1737 (2006)) deciding that Iran should without further delay suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, as well as work on all heavy water-related projects, and take certain steps required by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, which the United Nations Security Council deems essential to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful purpose of Iran's nuclear programme. In order to persuade Iran to comply with this mandatory decision, the United Nations Security Council decided that all Member States of the United Nations should apply a number of restrictive measures.

In line with UNSCR 1737 (2006), Common Position 2007/140/CFSP provides for certain restrictive measures against Iran. These measures include restrictions on exports and imports of goods and technology which could contribute to Iran's enrichment-related, reprocessing, or heavy water-related activities, or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems, a ban on the provision of related services, a ban on investment related to such goods and technology, a ban on procurement of relevant goods and technology from Iran, as well as the freezing of funds and economic resources of persons, entities and bodies engaged in, directly associated with or providing support for such activities or development.

These measures fall within the scope of the Treaty establishing the European Community and, therefore, notably with a view to ensuring their uniform application by economic operators in all Member States, Community legislation is necessary in order to implement them as far as the Community is concerned.

This Regulation derogates from existing Community legislation that provides for general rules on exports to, and imports from, third countries, and in particular from Council Regulation (EC) No 1334/2000 of 22 June 2000 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports of dual-use items and technology2, in so far as this Regulation covers the same goods and technology.

For reasons of expediency, the Commission should be empowered to publish the list of banned goods and technology and any amendments to it that will be adopted by the Sanctions Committee or the United Nations Security Council, and to amend the lists of persons, entities and bodies whose funds and economic resources should be frozen on the basis of decisions reached by the United Nations Security Council or by the Sanctions Committee.

As regards the procedure for establishing and amending the list referred to in Article 7(2) of this Regulation, the Council should exercise the corresponding implementing powers itself in view of the objectives of UNSCR 1737 (2006), notably to constrain Iran's development of sensitive technologies in support of its nuclear and missile programmes, and the proliferation-sensitive nature of the activities undertaken by the persons and entities supporting these programmes.

Member States should determine the penalties applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation. The penalties provided for should be proportionate, effective and dissuasive.

In order to ensure that the measures provided for in this Regulation are effective, the latter should enter into force on the day of its publication,