Headquarters: Iran — Finance / state-owned bank

Bank Melli Iran

Also known as: Bank Melli, National Bank of Iran, BMI

Updated on 11 November 2026

Iranian state-owned bank subject to US, EU and Canadian sanctions regimes.

State-owned Bank Melli Iran has faced US and European sanctions over alleged financial support to sensitive Iranian entities. Several EU court challenges failed, while some restrictions were lifted under the 2016 nuclear deal. Washington redesignated it in 2018 and Canada restored sanctions in November 2026; such administrative measures are not criminal convictions.

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3Documented controversies

5Sources

0Formal charge · all time

0Conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

September–October 2026

2026: UK licensing restrictions affecting Melli Bank plc subsidiary

Civil / administrative proceedings — against Melli Bank plc (UK subsidiary)

Protagonist not prosecuted — these proceedings are not counted in their formal charges or convictions.

The UK’s OFSI announced in September that licences for several designated Iranian banks, including Melli Bank plc, would generally be refused. A separate general licence for basic necessities would expire in October. The policy directly concerns the UK subsidiary and is not a criminal conviction of the parent bank.

State of the evidence: Official OFSI bulletin of 23 September 2026.
Legal status — source text: Administrative licensing policy applying to Melli Bank plc.
Attribution: Financial restrictions affecting a subsidiary.
Person targeted by the proceedings: Melli Bank plc (UK subsidiary)
Role of the person profiled: Protagonist not prosecuted

Sources · 2

[1]
Gouvernement britannique / OFSIOFSI publishes guidance on new licensing arrangements involving designated Iranian banks23 September 2026Official documentHigh reliability
[2]
OFACSanctions List Search — BANK MELLI IRANOfficial documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 11 November 2026

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Case · 2 documented stages

2018: US designation over alleged Quds Force support

Civil / administrative proceedings

November 2018

2018: US designation over alleged Quds Force support

Civil / administrative proceedings

The US Treasury returned Bank Melli to the SDN list on 5 November 2018, additionally alleging financial support to the IRGC Quds Force. US authorities said very substantial amounts moved through accounts controlled by that force. Bank Melli remains on the US sanctions record checked in November 2026.

State of the evidence: Treasury release and current OFAC listing.
Legal status — source text: 2018 OFAC listing still visible in November 2026.
Attribution: Alleged financial support for the Quds Force and sanctioned Iranian entities.

Sources · 2

[1]
US Department of the TreasuryU.S. Government Fully Re-Imposes Sanctions on the Iranian Regime As Part of Unprecedented U.S. Economic Pressure Campaign5 November 2018Official documentHigh reliability
[2]
OFACSanctions List Search — BANK MELLI IRANOfficial documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 11 November 2026

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October 2007

2007: US sanctions over alleged nuclear and missile financing

Civil / administrative proceedings

The US Treasury designated Bank Melli under Executive Order 13382 on 25 October 2007, alleging financial services to entities linked to Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. US officials cited letters of credit and banking accounts for already sanctioned entities. The action was administrative, not a criminal conviction.

State of the evidence: Treasury press statement and executive-order measure.
Legal status — source text: Historical US administrative designation, later supplemented or amended.
Attribution: Alleged financial facilitation of proliferation-sensitive activities.

Sources · 2

[1]
US Department of the TreasuryFact Sheet: Designation of Iranian Entities and Individuals for Proliferation Activities and Support for Terrorism25 October 2007Official documentHigh reliability
[2]
US Department of the TreasuryTreasury Designates Iran-Controlled Bank for Proliferation Future Bank Controlled by Iran’s Bank Melli12 March 2008Official documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 11 November 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

III. Has something changed?

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Controversia profile, updated 11 November 2026. Latest version: https://controversia.info/en/fiche/bank-melli-iran