Headquarters: Iran — Energy / oil and gas

National Iranian Oil Company

Also known as: NIOC, Société nationale iranienne du pétrole

Updated on 11 November 2026

Iranian state-owned oil company targeted by several international sanctions regimes.

National Iranian Oil Company is Iran’s state-owned oil company. It has faced US and EU restrictive measures linked to its alleged role in funding Iran’s government and security structures. The EU removed its historic asset freeze in January 2016 after litigation challenging the measures. Canada reimposed sanctions in November 2026.

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4Documented 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

November 2026

2026: Canadian sanctions reimposed

Civil / administrative proceedings

Canada relisted NIOC under its sanctions regime effective 5 November 2026, publicly announcing the move on 10 November. Ottawa said the designated entities had contributed to Iran’s proliferation-sensitive nuclear or ballistic-missile activities, or related financing. This is an administrative measure, not a criminal conviction.

State of the evidence: Canadian regulations and official list naming NIOC.
Legal status — source text: Canadian sanctions reimposed effective 5 November 2026.
Attribution: NIOC is among the eleven entities designated under Canada’s Iran sanctions regime.

Sources · 1

[1]
Global Affairs CanadaRegulations Amending the Special Economic Measures (Iran) Regulations5 November 2026Official documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 11 November 2026

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October 2020

2020: US sanctions over alleged financial support to the Qods Force

Civil / administrative proceedings

On 26 October 2020 the US Treasury designated NIOC under counterterrorism Executive Order 13224, alleging financial support for the IRGC-Qods Force. The action also targeted Iran’s Petroleum Ministry and National Iranian Tanker Company. It was an administrative US sanctions action.

State of the evidence: Official US Treasury announcement.
Legal status — source text: OFAC designation under an administrative counterterrorism sanctions regime.
Attribution: The US Treasury attributed financial support for the Qods Force to NIOC.

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Department of the TreasuryTreasury Sanctions Key Actors in Iran’s Oil Sector for Supporting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force26 October 2020Official documentHigh reliability
[2]
U.S. Department of the TreasuryTreasury Submits Report To Congress On NIOC And NITC24 September 2012Official documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 11 November 2026

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October 2012–March 2016

2012–2016: EU asset freeze upheld by the Court of Justice

Civil / administrative proceedings

The EU froze NIOC’s assets from 16 October 2012 on grounds that it provided financial resources to the Iranian government. NIOC challenged the measures. On 1 March 2016, the EU Court of Justice dismissed its appeal while noting that the listing had ended on 16 January 2016.

State of the evidence: Judgment C-440/14 P of the Court of Justice of the EU.
Legal status — source text: Appeal dismissed on 1 March 2016; historic freeze lifted on 16 January 2016.
Attribution: The EU alleged NIOC provided financial resources to the Iranian government.

Sources · 1

[1]
Court of Justice of the European UnionThe Court upholds the freezing of the National Iranian Oil Company’s funds for the period from 16 October 2012 until its removal from the list on 16 January 20161 March 2016Official documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 11 November 2026

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September–November 2012

2012: US identification of links to the Revolutionary Guards

Civil / administrative proceedings

In September 2012 the US Treasury determined that the National Iranian Oil Company was an agent or affiliate of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). US authorities subsequently applied sanctions restrictions. This was an administrative determination, not a criminal conviction.

State of the evidence: US Treasury determination and OFAC notice.
Legal status — source text: US administrative designation and restrictions; no criminal judgment cited.
Attribution: US authorities described NIOC as an agent or affiliate of the IRGC.

Sources · 2

[1]
U.S. Department of the TreasuryTreasury Submits Report To Congress On NIOC And NITC24 September 2012Official documentHigh reliability
[2]
Office of Foreign Assets ControlArchive of Iran-related Frequently Asked Questions6 February 2013Official 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/national-iranian-oil-company