--- title: "UAE Central Bank Bans Financial Transactions with Iran's Bank Melli" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/uae-central-bank-bans-financial-transactions-with-irans-bank-melli" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/uae-central-bank-bans-financial-transactions-with-irans-bank-melli" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/uae-central-bank-bans-financial-transactions-with-irans-bank-melli.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/uae-central-bank-bans-financial-transactions-with-irans-bank-melli" category: "Politics" area: "Middle East" published: "2026-09-23T19:25:28.794Z" source_reported: "2026-09-23T16:13:43.000Z" updated: "2026-09-23T19:25:28.794Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 57 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-23T20:30:13.061379+00:00" --- # UAE Central Bank Bans Financial Transactions with Iran's Bank Melli *Sanctions imposed on Bank Melli Iran branches for non-compliance with UAE regulations.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim is attributed to the UAE Central Bank, and two independent outlets reported the story. - Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. The reporting is clear and holds together, with specific details provided by the full reports. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is measured and proportionate, with no sensationalism or clickbait. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - The UAE Central Bank has imposed sanctions on Bank Melli Iran branches in the UAE. - The sanctions prohibit all financial transactions with Iran, including trade finance and transfers. - Bank Melli Iran is cited for non-compliance with UAE regulations, including those on money laundering and terrorist financing. - Bank Melli Iran has operated in the UAE since 1969 and has seven branches there. The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates has imposed sanctions on all branches of Bank Melli Iran operating within the country. The sanctions prohibit all financial transactions with Iran, including trade finance and transfers. The UAE Central Bank stated that the reason for the sanctions is Bank Melli Iran's non-compliance with UAE regulations, specifically mentioning those related to money laundering and terrorist financing. Bank Melli Iran has been operating in the UAE since 1969 and has seven branches there. ## Context of UAE-Iran Relations Yonhap News Agency reported that the UAE has historically been a significant economic lifeline for Iran, with banks holding substantial Iran-linked deposits. However, relations have deteriorated significantly since February 2026, following attacks by Iran on Gulf countries with US military bases. The UAE previously announced a halt to all trade, commercial, and financial dealings with Iran in August 2026, after detecting two ballistic missiles launched from Iran. ## Coverage Comparison ## What the coverage left out None of the centre-rated or right-rated reports below mention the previous US sanctions on Bank Melli Iran, which was stated as a verified claim. Additionally, the specific date of the UAE Central Bank's decision, September 23, 2026, was only explicitly mentioned in the Yonhap News Agency full report and the Devdiscourse and Europa Press digests. The number of Bank Melli Iran branches in the UAE (seven) was only mentioned in the Yonhap News Agency full report. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 43% (3) - Right: 57% (4) 14 of 21 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-23T20:30:13.061379+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-23T21:30:08.446Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports from Devdiscourse and Reuters led with the UAE Central Bank's prohibition of Bank Melli Iran from operating in the Gulf state. Devdiscourse noted the sanctions were due to non-compliance with regulations, while Reuters cited regulatory breaches. Both reports mentioned the prohibition of financial transactions with Iran. Europa Press also reported the sanctions for failing to comply with legislation related to terrorist financing. ### Right - Right-rated reports from Yonhap News Agency, Emirates24|7, Gulf News, and Khaleej Times focused on the UAE Central Bank imposing strict sanctions and bans on Bank Melli Iran. Yonhap News Agency's full report detailed the prohibition of all financial transactions, including trade finance and transfers, and cited non-compliance with money laundering and terrorist financing regulations as the reason. Emirates24|7, Gulf News, and Khaleej Times also highlighted the ban on financial transactions with Iran due to regulatory non-compliance. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 3 - high: 2 - unknown: 14 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [fararu.com](https://fararu.com/fa/news/1004524/%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86%DA%A9-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%85-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF) — UAE Sanctions Iran's National Bank - [diarioestrategia.cl](https://diarioestrategia.cl/texto-diario/mostrar/6025929/emiratos-sanciona-banco-iran-incumplir-legislacion-referida-financiacion-terrorismo) — UAE Sanctions a Bank in Iran for Failing to Comply with Terrorist Financing Legislation - [연합뉴스-Yonhap News Agency](https://yna.co.kr/view/AKR20260924002400099) — UAE Sanctions Iran's Melley Bank... "Ban All Financial Transactions with Iran" - [Correio da Manhã](https://cmjornal.pt/mundo/detalhe/emirados-impoem-sancoes-contra-sucursais-de-banco-iraniano-no-pais) — Emirates Impose Sanctions Against Iranian Bank Branches in the Country - [tabnak.ir](https://tabnak.ir/fa/news/1395716/%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AE%D8%B5%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%B9%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86) — UAE's Continued Hostile Actions Against Iran - [asriran.com](https://asriran.com/fa/news/1193755/%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86%DA%A9-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%85-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF) — UAE Sanctions Iran's National Bank - [Noticias ao Minuto](https://noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/3056165/irao-emirados-impoem-sancoes-contra-sucursais-de-banco-iraniano-no-pais) — Emirates Impose Sanctions Against Iranian Bank Branches in the Country - [europapress.es](https://europapress.es/internacional/noticia-emiratos-sanciona-banco-iran-incumplir-legislacion-referida-financiacion-terrorismo-20260923170839.html) — UAE Sanctions a Bank in Iran for Failing to Comply with the law... - [dunya.com](https://dunya.com/dunya/baeden-iran-bankasi-bank-melliye-yaptirim-haberi-841175) — UAE Imposes Sanctions on Iranian Bank Bank Melli - Dünya Newspaper - [Haberler](https://haberler.com/guncel/bae-merkez-bankasi-iran-bank-melli-nin-tum-20265041-haberi) — UAE Central Bank Imposes Financial Transaction Ban on All Branches of Iranian Bank Melli - [Mathrubhumi](https://mathrubhumi.com/pravasi/uae/uae-central-bank-sanctions-iranian-bank-melli-branches-jc3ytk2a) — Violation of the Law: UAE Central Bank Sanctions Bank Melli Iran's UAE Branches - [1prime.ru](https://1prime.ru/20260923/tsb-873607253.html) — The UAE CEC Restricted the Work of Branches of the Iranian Bank - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/world/middle-east/uae-bans-irans-bank-melli-operating-country-2026-09-23) — Iran's Bank Melli shut out of UAE for regulatory breaches - [Devdiscourse](https://devdiscourse.com/article/international/3981309-uae-central-bank-imposes-strict-sanctions-on-bank-melli-iran-branches) — UAE central bank imposes strict sanctions on Bank Melli Iran branches - [IMLebanon](https://imlebanon.org/2026/09/23/bankoftheuae456) — The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates Is Imposing Measures on the Branches of the Iranian Bank of Milli. - [arabtimesonline.com](https://arabtimesonline.com/news/uae-central-bank-bars-bank-melli-iran-from-operating-in-country) — UAE central bank bars Bank Melli Iran from operating in country - [Emirates24|7](https://emirates247.com/business/central-bank-imposes-strict-sanctions-on-branches-of-bank-melli-iran-operating-in-uae/5972) — Central Bank imposes strict sanctions on branches of Bank Melli Iran operating in UAE - [Gulf News](https://gulfnews.com/business/banking/uae-central-bank-sanctions-bank-melli-iran-over-compliance-violations-1.500685297) — UAE Central Bank sanctions Bank Melli Iran over compliance violations - [Khaleej Times](https://khaleejtimes.com/business/cbuae-sanctions-bank-melli-iran-financial-transactions-ban) — CBUAE imposes sanctions on Bank Melli Iran, bans financial transactions with Iran - [Cryptocurrency News | Cryptocurrency Prices | Market Cap](https://cryptocurrency.com.tr/uae-central-bank-moves-against-bank-melli-iran-branches-as-us-sanctions-tighten-the-noose-387969) — UAE central bank moves against Bank Melli Iran branches as US sanctions tighten the noose - [Crypto Briefing](https://cryptobriefing.com/uae-central-bank-bank-melli-iran-sanctions) — UAE central bank moves against Bank Melli Iran branches as US sanctions tighten the noose ## Questions **What action has the UAE Central Bank taken against Bank Melli Iran?** The UAE Central Bank has imposed sanctions on all branches of Bank Melli Iran operating in the UAE. These sanctions prohibit all financial transactions with Iran, including trade finance and transfers. **Why were sanctions imposed on Bank Melli Iran?** The sanctions were imposed because Bank Melli Iran failed to comply with UAE regulations, including those related to money laundering and terrorist financing. This non-compliance led to the UAE Central Bank taking enforcement measures. **How long has Bank Melli Iran operated in the UAE?** Bank Melli Iran has been operating in the United Arab Emirates since 1969. It currently has seven branches located within the UAE. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/uae-central-bank-bans-financial-transactions-with-irans-bank-melli. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "UAE Central Bank Bans Financial Transactions with Iran's Bank Melli", https://mediabias.news/politics/uae-central-bank-bans-financial-transactions-with-irans-bank-melli