Executive Order 13876-Imposing Sanctions With Respect to Iran
Issued 2019-06-24 by Donald J. Trump
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
On June 24, 2019, President Trump issued an executive order imposing economic sanctions on Iran. The order blocks all property and interests in property belonging to certain Iranian officials and entities, meaning any such assets in the United States or under the control of U.S. persons are frozen and cannot be transferred, paid, or dealt with in any way. The order specifically targets people appointed by Iran's Supreme Leader to government positions or to lead Iranian entities, as well as anyone who provides support to these individuals or entities. It also applies to senior executives and board members of organizations whose assets are blocked under this order.
The order also authorizes the Treasury Secretary to impose sanctions on foreign banks that knowingly conduct significant financial transactions for people whose assets are blocked. These sanctions could prevent foreign financial institutions from opening or maintaining correspondent accounts in the United States, effectively cutting them off from the U.S. financial system. The President cited Iran's actions to destabilize the Middle East, promote terrorism, advance its ballistic missile program, and its "irresponsible and provocative actions" in international waters, including targeting U.S. military assets and civilian vessels.
This order builds on a national emergency concerning Iran that was first declared in 1995. The President used authority granted by Congress under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, though the constitutional basis for such broad economic regulatory power during long-lasting emergencies has drawn some criticism. Courts have generally allowed presidents to impose these types of sanctions.
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Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
Executive Order 13876 ("Executive Order 13876-Imposing Sanctions With Respect to Iran") imposes sanctions or economic restrictions targeting Iran. The President's stated rationale: "because of the ability to transfer funds or other assets instantaneously, prior notice to such persons of measures to be taken pursuant to this order would render those measures ineffectual." The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) grants the President broad authority to regulate international economic transactions when a national emergency has been declared. Presidents from both parties have used IEEPA extensively for foreign policy sanctions.
While the statutory authority is well-established, IEEPA's breadth has drawn constitutional criticism. The statute delegates sweeping power to the President during emergencies that can last for years or decades. The non-delegation doctrine questions whether Congress can transfer such broad economic regulatory authority to the executive branch. Despite these concerns, courts have generally deferred to presidential sanctions decisions.
Official Summary
Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2019 Executive Order 13876—Imposing Sanctions With Respect to Iran June 24, 2019 By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq .) (IEEPA), the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq .), section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (8 U.S.C. 1182(f)), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I, Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, in order to take additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12957 of March 15, 1995, in light of the actions of the Government of Iran and Iranian-backed proxies, particularly those taken to destabilize the Middle East, promote international terrorism, and advance Iran's ballistic missile program, and Iran's irresponsible and provocative actions in and over international waters, including the targeting of United States military assets and civilian vessels, hereby order: Section 1 . (a) All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control