On September 22, 2015, the General Court of the European Union (Court) rejected the application of First Islamic Investment Bank to be taken off the EU’s anti-nuclear proliferation sanctions list. The Court accepted the bank’s argument that the Council had failed to provide satisfactory evidence for its claim that the bank assisted entities in circumventing the EU’s sanctions and channeled oil-related payments to Iran. However, the Court noted that the bank was owned or controlled by Mr. Zanjani, who is himself included on the EU sanctions list. Stressing that “it is necessary to freeze the funds and economic resources which belong to persons and entities providing support to the Government of Iran and entities owned or controlled by them” the Court concluded that the bank’s listing was lawful. While the Court found the Council had violated the bank’s right to defense by taking nineteen months to reply to a request for information regarding the listing, the Court upheld the sanction emphasizing “the prime importance of the preservation of international peace and security.”