Named (as ERI) by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2008 as a military related institute requiring better understanding of its role in Iran's nuclear program; reportedly included (as ERI) in a February 1994 German Federal Ministry of Research and Technology (BMFT) list of entities which, "because of harmless-sounding appellations having to do with research, training, or science, belie the fact that they are wholly or in part devoted to military projects, and are engaged in procurement activities for these projects, with the aim of supplying know-how, equipment, or materials"; reportedly received orders from the Iranian Research and Development Organization (IRDO) to obtain defense-related research and development equipment; according to the European Union, is a subsidiary of the Defense Industries Organization (DIO); according to the European Union, handles much of the procurement for DIO and is responsible for research and development; reportedly houses a missile design center; reported site of production lines for aluminum powder, hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) resin and potassium chlorite, useful in the production of solid rocket fuel; reportedly formerly known as Scientific-Research Group.

Sanctions

Designated by the U.N. Security Council on June 9, 2010, pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006), as an entity involved in Iran's proliferation sensitive nuclear activities or development of nuclear weapon delivery systems; subsequently designated by U.N. Security Council resolution 2231 (2015); with some exceptions, the designation requires states to freeze assets that are owned or controlled by the entity, directly or indirectly, and to ensure that assets are not made available to the entity.

Listed by the European Union on April 24, 2007, as an entity linked to Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or Iran's development of nuclear weapon delivery systems; with some exceptions, E.U. member states must freeze assets owned or controlled by the entity, directly or indirectly, and prevent assets from being made available to it.

Added on March 21, 2023, to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list maintained by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), freezing its assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibiting transactions with U.S. parties, pursuant to Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems; also subject to the Iranian Financial Sanctions Regulations; foreign parties facilitating transactions for the entity or otherwise assisting the entity are subject to U.S. sanctions.

Sanctioned by the governments of Australia, Japan, and the United Kingdom, restricting business and/or financial transactions with the entity and/or freezing its assets in those countries.

Listed by the Japanese government in 2022, as an entity of concern for proliferation relating to missiles and nuclear weapons.

Listed by the British government in 2015, as an entity of potential concern for WMD-related procurement, but removed in 2017 after the U.K. withdrew its Iran list; identified by the British government in February 1998 as having procured goods and/or technology for weapons of mass destruction programs.