United Kingdom Supreme Court Press Summary on the Appeal by Bank Mellat v Her Majesty's Treasury

June 19, 2013

Weapon Program: 

  • Nuclear

Related Country: 

  • Iran

This appeal concerns measures taken by the Treasury to restrict access to the UK’s financial markets by a major Iranian commercial bank on account of its alleged connection with Iran’s nuclear programme. On 9 October 2009 the Treasury made a direction under Schedule 7 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008 (“the Act”) requiring all persons operating in the financial sector not to have any commercial dealings with Bank Mellat. The Act lays down three safeguards: (1) the direction must be laid before Parliament after being made and unless approved by affirmative resolution within 28 days will cease to have effect thereafter; (2) the direction must be proportionate having regard to the risk to the national interest presented by, in this case, nuclear proliferation; and (3) any person affected by the direction may apply to the High Court to set it aside.

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