Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/335 · issued 27 Dec 2010 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has suspended mandatory ACU settlement for all eligible current account and trade transactions with Iran. Banks must now settle these in any permitted currency outside the ACU mechanism until further notice.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks can now pay or receive money for trade with Iran using any allowed currency (like US dollars, euros, or Indian rupees) instead of being forced to use the ACU (a special group for settling payments between some Asian countries).
This rule is temporary until the RBI (India's central bank) says otherwise.
Banks must tell their customers (importers and exporters who trade with Iran) about this change.
Banks still have to follow all other foreign exchange rules (FEMA) when handling these payments.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Mumbai, Priya, gets a call from an exporter who needs to receive payment from Iran. Before this rule, Priya had to route the payment through the ACU, which was slow and caused problems. Now, she can simply process the payment in US dollars directly, making the exporter happy and the transaction smooth.
What changed
Previously, all eligible current account and trade transactions between India and Iran had to be routed through the Asian Clearing Union (ACU) mechanism. This circular exempts Indo-Iran transactions from that requirement, allowing settlement in any permitted currency outside the ACU until further notice.
What it means for you
Banks handling Indo-Iran trade can now process payments and receipts in freely convertible currencies like USD, EUR, or INR, bypassing the ACU. This removes a key operational hurdle for importers and exporters facing difficulties with ACU-based settlements. Banks must update their internal processes and advise customers accordingly.
What you must do
Update internal systems to process Indo-Iran transactions outside the ACU mechanism.
Inform all relevant constituents (importers/exporters) about the change in settlement procedure.
Ensure compliance with FEMA provisions and any other applicable laws when handling these transactions.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Importers and exporters trading with Iran, Compliance and trade finance departments
❓ Common questions
Does this circular apply to all transactions with Iran?
Yes, it covers all eligible current account transactions and trade transactions with Iran, including those on deferred payment terms.
What currencies can now be used for Indo-Iran settlements?
Any permitted currency outside the ACU mechanism can be used, such as USD, EUR, or INR, until further notice.
Are there any other regulatory approvals needed?
The circular states it is without prejudice to permissions or approvals required under any other law, so banks must ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/335
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 31
December 27, 2010
To
All Authorised Dealer Category - I Banks
Madam / Sir,
Asian Clearing Union (ACU) Mechanism – Indo - Iran trade
Attention of Authorised Dealer Category – I (AD Category-I) banks is invited to Regulations 3 and 5 of Notification No.FEMA.14/2000-RB dated May 3, 2000 read with items 7(b) and 7(e) of the Memorandum of Procedure for channelling transactions through Asian Clearing Union (ACU) in terms of which all eligible current account transactions as defined by the Articles of Agreement of the International Monetary Fund and export / import transactions between ACU member countries on deferred payment terms respectively are to be routed through the ACU mechanism.
2. In view of the difficulties being experienced by importers / exporters in payments to /receipts from Iran, the extant provisions have been reviewed and it has been decided that all eligible current account transactions including trade transactions with Iran should be settled in any permitted currency outside the ACU mechanism until further notice.
3. Necessary amendments to the Foreign Exchange Management (Manner of Receipt and Payment) Regulations, 2000 are being issued separately.
4. AD Category-I banks may bring the contents of this circular to the notice of their constituents concerned.
5. The directions contained in this circular has been issued under sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(Salim Gangadharan)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/335 · issued 27 Dec 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Inform all relevant constituents (importers/exporters) about the change in settlement procedure.
💻 IT / Systems
Update internal systems to process Indo-Iran transactions outside the ACU mechanism.
📜 Compliance
Ensure compliance with FEMA provisions and any other applicable laws when handling these transactions.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks, Importers and exporters trading with Iran, Compliance and trade finance departments), your first concrete step on “Indo-Iran Trade: ACU Settlement Suspended” is: “Update internal systems to process Indo-Iran transactions outside the ACU mechanism.” (RBI issued this 27 Dec 2010).
Circular: RBI/2010-11/335 -- Indo-Iran Trade: ACU Settlement Suspended
Issued: 27 Dec 2010
Action required: Update internal systems to process Indo-Iran transactions outside the ACU mechanism.
Action required: Inform all relevant constituents (importers/exporters) about the change in settlement procedure.
Action required: Ensure compliance with FEMA provisions and any other applicable laws when handling these transactions.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=6172&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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