The Council agreed on extending the restrictive measures against Iran relating to the EU's serious and deepening concerns over the Iranian nuclear programme. In particular, the Council banned imports of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products. In addition, the Council reinforced the EU's restrictive measures against Syria for the human rights violations.

The European Council decided broadened the EU's restrictive measures against Iran, given the EU's serious and deepening concerns over the Iranian nuclear programme. The prohibition concerns import, purchase and transport of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products as well as related finance and insurance. Furthermore, the Council outlawed imports of petrochemical products from Iran into the EU as well as the export of key equipment and technology for this sector to Iran.

New investment in petrochemical companies in Iran as well as joint ventures with such enterprises are also no more allowed. In order to ensure that legitimate trade can continue under strict conditions, it is frozen the assets of the Iranian central bank within the EU. Furthermore, trade in gold, precious metals and diamonds with Iranian public bodies and the central bank will no more be permitted and the Council subjected three more persons to an asset freeze and a visa ban. It also froze the assets of eight further entities.

On the other hand, the Council also reinforced restrictive measures on Syria. This reinforcement is applied, according to the Council, in response to the unacceptable repression by the Syrian regime on the Syrian people. In September 2011, the Council banned to invest in Syrian oil industry. The Council added 22 persons responsible for human rights violations and eight entities financially supporting the regime to the list of those subject to an asset freeze and a ban from entering the EU.