IRISL has been sanctioned by the United States, United Nations, European Union, and other parties for its role in assisting Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile development programs. However, the return of the line to the world market was expected by early winter 2016, as a result of the Iran nuclear deal between Iran, the P5+1/EU3+3 powers, and the EU in August 2015. Since the USA pulled out of the Iran Nuclear Deal, the IRISL was added back to the CIA's sanctions list on June 8, 2020. IRISL has also announced its plans to become one of the world's top ten shipping lines by 2020.