United Nations (Iran—Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) Regulations 2016
United Nations (Iran—Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) Regulations 2016: revoked on 18 October 2025, pursuant to regulation 3(3).
Version as at 18 October 2025
United Nations (Iran—Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) Regulations 2016
(LI 2016/9)
United Nations (Iran—Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) Regulations 2016: revoked on 18 October 2025, pursuant to regulation 3(3).
Jerry Mateparae, Governor-General
Order in Council
At Wellington this 15th day of February 2016
Present:
His Excellency the Governor-General in Council
Note
The Parliamentary Counsel Office has made editorial and format changes to this version using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.
Note 4 at the end of this version provides a list of the amendments included in it.
These regulations are administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
These regulations are made under section 2 of the United Nations Act 1946—
(a)
on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council:
(b)
for the purpose of giving effect to resolution 2231 (2015) of the Security Council of the United Nations, adopted under the United Nations Charter on 20 July 2015.
Contents
Regulations
1 Title
These regulations are the United Nations (Iran—Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) Regulations 2016.
2 Commencement
These regulations come into force on 19 February 2016.
3 Revocation of these regulations
(1)
Regulations 21 to 28 and 32 and the cross-headings above regulations 21, 26, 28, and 32 are revoked on 18 October 2020.
(2)
Regulations 13 to 20 and 29 to 31 and the cross-headings above regulations 13, 18, 20, 29, and 31 are revoked on 18 October 2023.
(3)
The rest of these regulations and the cross-headings above regulations 5, 9, 11, 12, and 33 are revoked on 18 October 2025.
4 Interpretation
(1)
In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,—
agent of a designated person means—
(a)
any person who acts on behalf of, or at the direction of,—
(i)
a designated person; or
(ii)
another person who, directly or indirectly, acts on behalf of the designated person; or
(b)
any entity owned or controlled by a designated person or by a person described in paragraph (a)
Annex B means Annex B (Statement) to resolution 2231
arms includes—
(a)
any related materiel; and
(b)
components and spare parts for any arms or for any materiel referred to in paragraph (a); and
(c)
specified military equipment
ballistic missile-related technology means items, materials, equipment, goods, or technology—
(a)
described in S/2015/546; or
(b)
determined by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade as being capable of contributing to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems
certificate of clearance means a certificate of clearance granted under the Customs and Excise Act 2018
charterer, in relation to a craft, includes a person acting as the agent of the charterer of the craft
craft has the same meaning as in the Customs and Excise Act 2018
Customs and Excise Act 2018 includes any regulations made under that Act in relation to prohibited imports or exports
Customs officer has the same meaning as in section 5(1) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018
designated person means an individual or entity designated by or under paragraph 6(c) of Annex B as a person to whom the measures required by that paragraph apply
IAEA means the International Atomic Energy Agency
Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA means the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that is attached as Annex A to resolution 2231
Minister means the Minister of Foreign Affairs
New Zealand includes Tokelau
New Zealand chartered craft means a craft that is not a New Zealand registered craft but is chartered to a New Zealand citizen or an entity incorporated or constituted under the law of New Zealand
New Zealand craft means a New Zealand registered craft or a New Zealand chartered craft
New Zealand registered craft—
(a)
means a craft registered in New Zealand; and
(b)
includes, whether or not it is actually registered,—
(i)
an aircraft required to be registered in New Zealand under the Civil Aviation Act 2023; and
(ii)
a ship required or entitled to be registered in New Zealand under the Ship Registration Act 1992
nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology means items, materials, equipment, goods, or technology—
(a)
described in—
(i)
INFCIRC/254/Rev.9/Part 2, other than items, materials, equipment, goods, or technology for exclusive use in light water reactors; or
(ii)
INFCIRC/254/Rev.12/Part 1, other than—
(A)
equipment covered by B.1 of INFCIRC/254/Rev.12/Part 1 that is for light water reactors; and
(B)
low-enriched uranium covered by A.1.2 of INFCIRC/254/Rev.12/Part 1 that is incorporated in assembled nuclear fuel elements for light water reactors; or
(b)
determined by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade as being capable of contributing to reprocessing or enrichment-related or heavy-water-related activities that are inconsistent with the JCPOA
owner, in relation to a craft, includes a person acting as the agent of the owner
property—
(a)
means everything that is capable of being owned, whether it is—
(i)
real or personal property:
(ii)
tangible or intangible property:
(iii)
inside or outside New Zealand; and
(b)
includes a legal or an equitable estate or interest in property
resolution 2231 means resolution 2231 of the Security Council, adopted on 20 July 2015
specified military equipment—
(a)
means battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large-calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, or missiles or missile systems (as defined for the purpose in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms); and
(b)
includes—
(i)
any related materiel; and
(ii)
components and spare parts for any specified military equipment or for any materiel referred to in subparagraph (i)
the Customs has the same meaning as Customs in section 5(1) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018
United Nations Register of Conventional Arms means the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms established on 1 January 1992 under United Nations General Assembly resolution A/RES/46/36 L of 6 December 1991.
(2)
In these regulations, a thing is exported to Iran in restricted circumstances if the thing is exported to Iran, or for use in or for the benefit of Iran, without either of the following:
(a)
the exportation having been approved in advance by the Security Council:
(b)
an end-user guarantee that—
(i)
includes the specified end-use, end-user, and end-use location; and
(ii)
is accepted by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
(3)
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade may accept an end-user guarantee for the purposes of subclause (2)(b)(ii) or regulation 20(2)(b) only if satisfied that Iran will not use any of the ballistic missile-related technology to which the guarantee relates in the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems.
(4)
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade must ensure that a notice of any determination made under paragraph (b) of the definition of ballistic missile-related technology or paragraph (b) of the definition of nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology in subclause (1) is published—
(a)
by notice in the Gazette; and
(b)
on the Internet site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Regulation 4(1) certificate of clearance: amended, on 1 October 2018, by section 443(4) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 (2018 No 4).
Regulation 4(1) craft: amended, on 1 October 2018, by section 443(4) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 (2018 No 4).
Regulation 4(1) Customs and Excise Act 1996: revoked, on 1 October 2018, by section 443(4) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 (2018 No 4).
Regulation 4(1) Customs and Excise Act 2018: inserted, on 1 October 2018, by section 443(4) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 (2018 No 4).
Regulation 4(1) Customs officer: amended, on 1 October 2018, by section 443(4) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 (2018 No 4).
Regulation 4(1) New Zealand registered craft paragraph (b)(i): amended, on 5 April 2025, by section 486 of the Civil Aviation Act 2023 (2023 No 10).
Regulation 4(1) the Customs: amended, on 1 October 2018, by section 443(4) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 (2018 No 4).
Nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology: exportation
5 Exportation restricted
A person must not export, directly or indirectly, nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology from New Zealand knowing that the goods are to be exported to Iran in restricted circumstances.
6 Loading onto craft restricted
The master or pilot of a craft must not allow nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology to be loaded onto the craft knowing that the goods are intended to be exported to Iran in restricted circumstances.
7 Customs may refuse certificate of clearance
The Customs may refuse to grant a certificate of clearance in respect of a craft that a Customs officer has reasonable cause to suspect is loaded with nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology that is intended to be exported to Iran in restricted circumstances.
8 Application of Customs and Excise Act 2018
(1)
The provisions of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 (except sections 182, 183, 186(b)(ii), 188(1)(b), 188(2), 189(2), 388, and 389 and clauses 1(3)(b) and 4(2)(b) of Schedule 5) apply in relation to nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology that is to be exported to Iran in restricted circumstances, as if it were goods the exportation of which is prohibited under section 96 of that Act.
(2)
The Comptroller of Customs must give any nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology to which the Crown has title as forfeited goods to a person authorised in writing by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade to receive the goods (instead of disposing of the goods under section 189(2) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018).
Regulation 8: replaced, on 1 October 2018, by section 443(4) of the Customs and Excise Act 2018 (2018 No 4).
Nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology: dealing and carrying
9 Dealing restricted
(1)
A person must not sell, transfer, or otherwise deal with nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology knowing that it is intended to be supplied, sold, or transferred, directly or indirectly, to Iran, or for use in or for the benefit of Iran.
(2)
Subclause (1) applies to a person in New Zealand and to a New Zealand citizen in any place outside New Zealand.
(3)
Subclause (1) does not apply if the intended supply, sale, or transfer of nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology has been approved in advance by the Security Council.
10 Carrying on New Zealand craft restricted
(1)
A person must not use a New Zealand craft to carry nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology knowing that—
(a)
the craft is carrying nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology; and
(b)
the carriage is, or forms part of, the carriage of those goods from any place to Iran.
(2)
Subclause (1) applies to,—
(a)
in the case of a New Zealand registered craft,—
(i)
the owner of the craft; and
(ii)
the master or pilot in command of the craft; and
(b)
in the case of a New Zealand chartered craft,—
(i)
the charterer of the craft; and
(ii)
the master or pilot in command of the craft, if the master or pilot is a New Zealand citizen.
(3)
Subclause (1) does not apply if the supply, sale, or transfer of the nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology to which the carriage relates has been approved in advance by the Security Council.
(4)
Subclause (1) does not limit regulations 5 to 9.
Nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology: assistance and training
11 Assistance and training restricted
(1)
A person must not knowingly provide any assistance (including technical assistance or any kind of financial assistance) or training relating to the supply, sale, transfer, manufacture, or use of nuclear-related material, equipment, or technology to, or at the request of, any person in Iran unless the provision of the assistance or training has been approved in advance by the Security Council.
(2)
Subclause (1) applies to a person in New Zealand and to a New Zealand citizen in any place outside New Zealand.
Iranian investment in nuclear industry
12 Restricted transactions
(1)
A person must not knowingly engage in a restricted transaction unless the engagement has been approved in advance by the Security Council.
(2)
Subclause (1) applies to a person in New Zealand and to a New Zealand citizen in any place outside New Zealand.
(3)
In this regulation, a restricted transaction is a financial transaction of any kind—
(a)
that relates to—
(i)
uranium mining; or
(ii)
the use of nuclear materials and technology as listed in INFCIRC/254/Rev.12/Part 1; and
(b)
that is engaged in with any of the following persons:
(i)
any person in Iran:
(ii)
a national of Iran outside Iran:
(iii)
any entity owned or controlled by Iran:
(iv)
any person acting on behalf, or at the direction, of Iran or of an entity owned or controlled by Iran.
(4)
In this regulation, a person engages in a financial transaction if the person—
(a)
is a party to the transaction; or
(b)
procures the transaction; or
(c)
supplies or provides any financial services, including any investment, brokering, or related services, in connection with the transaction.
Ballistic missile-related technology: exportation and importation[Revoked]
Heading: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
14 Loading onto craft restricted
[Revoked]Regulation 14: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
15 Customs may refuse certificate of clearance
[Revoked]Regulation 15: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
17 Application of Customs and Excise Act 2018
[Revoked]Regulation 17: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
Ballistic missile-related technology: dealing with and carrying[Revoked]
Heading: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
19 Carrying on New Zealand craft restricted
[Revoked]Regulation 19: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
Ballistic missile-related technology: assistance and training[Revoked]
Heading: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
20 Assistance and training restricted
[Revoked]Regulation 20: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
Specified military equipment and other arms: exportation and importation[Revoked]
Heading: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
21 Exportation of specified military equipment restricted
[Revoked]Regulation 21: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
22 Loading onto craft restricted
[Revoked]Regulation 22: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
23 Customs may refuse certificate of clearance
[Revoked]Regulation 23: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
24 Importation of arms restricted
[Revoked]Regulation 24: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
25 Application of Customs and Excise Act 2018
[Revoked]Regulation 25: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
Specified military equipment and other arms: dealing with and carrying[Revoked]
Heading: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
27 Carrying on New Zealand craft restricted
[Revoked]Regulation 27: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
Specified military equipment: assistance and training[Revoked]
Heading: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
28 Assistance and training restricted
[Revoked]Regulation 28: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
Property of designated persons: prohibitions[Revoked]
Heading: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
29 Prohibition on dealing with property of designated persons
[Revoked]Regulation 29: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
30 Prohibition on sending property to designated persons
[Revoked]Regulation 30: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
Property of designated persons: exceptions[Revoked]
Heading: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
31 Minister may consent to activity prohibited by regulation 29 or 30
[Revoked]Regulation 31: revoked, on 18 October 2023, by regulation 3(2).
Entry and transit of designated persons[Revoked]
Heading: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
32 Prohibition on designated persons entering or transiting through New Zealand
[Revoked]Regulation 32: revoked, on 18 October 2020, by regulation 3(1).
Miscellaneous provisions
33 Offences
For the purposes of section 3(1) of the United Nations Act 1946, a person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of these regulations commits an offence against these regulations.
34 Attorney-General’s consent needed for certain prosecutions
Prosecution for an offence against these regulations that is alleged to have been committed outside New Zealand may not be commenced without—
(a)
the Attorney-General’s consent; and
(b)
the Attorney-General’s certificate that it is expedient that the prosecution be commenced.
35 Revocation
The United Nations Sanctions (Iran) Regulations 2010 (SR 2010/264) are revoked.
Michael Webster,
Clerk of the Executive Council.
Date of notification in Gazette: 18 February 2016.
Notes
1 General
This is a consolidation of the United Nations (Iran—Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) Regulations 2016 that incorporates the amendments made to the legislation so that it shows the law as at its stated date.
2 Legal status
A consolidation is taken to correctly state, as at its stated date, the law enacted or made by the legislation consolidated and by the amendments. This presumption applies unless the contrary is shown.
Section 78 of the Legislation Act 2019 provides that this consolidation, published as an electronic version, is an official version. A printed version of legislation that is produced directly from this official electronic version is also an official version.
3 Editorial and format changes
The Parliamentary Counsel Office makes editorial and format changes to consolidations using the powers under subpart 2 of Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019. See also PCO editorial conventions for consolidations.
4 Amendments incorporated in this consolidation
Civil Aviation Act 2023 (2023 No 10): section 486
Customs and Excise Act 2018 (2018 No 4): section 443(4)
United Nations (Iran—Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) Regulations 2016 (LI 2016/9): regulation 3