Foreign policy and sanctions

Executive Order 13553: Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to Serious Human Rights Abuses by the Government of Iran and Taking Certain Other Actions

President: Barack Obama

Authorized asset freezes and entry restrictions for Iranian officials responsible for serious human-rights abuses after the 2009 election.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 13553 still in effect? Yes. Active Iran sanctions authority implemented by Treasury and expanded by later law and orders.

What does Executive Order 13553 do?

EO 13553 allows Treasury, with State, to block property of Iranian officials and persons acting for them who are responsible for or complicit in serious human-rights abuses against people in Iran. It also suspends entry of designated noncitizens. Later authorities expanded technology, censorship and other human-rights sanctions.

Administration position: Designations apply to named persons and support networks; the order is not a general asset freeze on all Iranian people.
SignedSeptember 28, 2010
AuthorityIEEPA and immigration law
AdministratorsTreasury and State

Before and after

Before the order

Iran sanctions focused heavily on proliferation, terrorism and economic sectors.

After the order

A dedicated human-rights basis supported blocking and visa restrictions.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
TreasuryDesignate and block propertyContinuing
State DepartmentCoordinate designations and visa restrictionsContinuing
US personsBlock and report covered propertyContinuing

What happened next

EO 13553 created the authority.