diff --git a/spinifex/arn/iam.go b/spinifex/arn/iam.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..44a861b89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spinifex/arn/iam.go
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package arn
+
+import "fmt"
+
+// IAMResourceType is the resource-type segment of an arn:aws:iam ARN.
+type IAMResourceType string
+
+const (
+	IAMUser            IAMResourceType = "user"
+	IAMRole            IAMResourceType = "role"
+	IAMGroup           IAMResourceType = "group"
+	IAMPolicy          IAMResourceType = "policy"
+	IAMInstanceProfile IAMResourceType = "instance-profile"
+	IAMOIDCProvider    IAMResourceType = "oidc-provider"
+)
+
+// FormatIAMPath builds an IAM ARN for a path-bearing resource. The path is
+// preserved verbatim; callers are responsible for validating it.
+func FormatIAMPath(kind IAMResourceType, accountID, resourcePath, name string) string {
+	if resourcePath == "" {
+		resourcePath = "/"
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:%s%s%s", accountID, kind, resourcePath, name)
+}
+
+// FormatIAMResource builds an IAM ARN from an already-formed resource
+// component, such as an OIDC provider issuer host/path.
+func FormatIAMResource(kind IAMResourceType, accountID, resource string) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:%s/%s", accountID, kind, resource)
+}
diff --git a/spinifex/arn/iam_test.go b/spinifex/arn/iam_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..29599f553
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spinifex/arn/iam_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package arn_test
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
+)
+
+func TestFormatIAMPath(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name         string
+		kind         arn.IAMResourceType
+		resourcePath string
+		resourceName string
+		want         string
+	}{
+		{"empty path defaults to root", arn.IAMUser, "", "alice", "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/alice"},
+		{"root path", arn.IAMPolicy, "/", "app", "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:policy/app"},
+		{"nested path", arn.IAMRole, "/service-roles/", "app", "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/service-roles/app"},
+		{"path is not normalized", arn.IAMGroup, "/teams//ops/", "admins", "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:group/teams//ops/admins"},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := arn.FormatIAMPath(tt.kind, "123456789012", tt.resourcePath, tt.resourceName)
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Fatalf("FormatIAMPath() = %q, want %q", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestFormatIAMResource(t *testing.T) {
+	got := arn.FormatIAMResource(arn.IAMOIDCProvider, "123456789012", "issuer.example/id/cluster")
+	want := "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:oidc-provider/issuer.example/id/cluster"
+	if got != want {
+		t.Fatalf("FormatIAMResource() = %q, want %q", got, want)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/iam.go b/spinifex/gateway/iam.go
index 273ae045f..d557c49d5 100644
--- a/spinifex/gateway/iam.go
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/iam.go
@@ -14,34 +14,46 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/utils"
 )
 
-// IAMHandler processes parsed query args and returns XML response bytes.
-type IAMHandler func(action string, q map[string]string, gw *GatewayConfig, accountID string) ([]byte, error)
+// iamAction parses once so authorization and dispatch share one typed input.
+type iamAction struct {
+	parse    func(map[string]string) (any, error)
+	dispatch func(string, any, *GatewayConfig, string) ([]byte, error)
+}
 
-// iamHandler creates a type-safe IAMHandler: allocates the input struct,
-// parses query params, calls the handler, and marshals output to XML.
-func iamHandler[In any](handler func(string, *In, *GatewayConfig) (any, error)) IAMHandler {
-	return func(action string, q map[string]string, gw *GatewayConfig, accountID string) ([]byte, error) {
-		input := new(In)
-		if err := awsec2query.QueryParamsToStruct(q, input); err != nil {
-			if errors.Is(err, awsec2query.ErrSliceTooLarge) {
-				return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorMalformedQueryString)
+// iamHandler creates a type-safe IAM action with separate parse and dispatch
+// stages so policy resolution consumes the exact handler input.
+func iamHandler[In any](handler func(string, *In, *GatewayConfig) (any, error)) iamAction {
+	return iamAction{
+		parse: func(q map[string]string) (any, error) {
+			input := new(In)
+			if err := awsec2query.QueryParamsToStruct(q, input); err != nil {
+				if errors.Is(err, awsec2query.ErrSliceTooLarge) {
+					return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorMalformedQueryString)
+				}
+				return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMInvalidInput)
 			}
-			return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMInvalidInput)
-		}
-		output, err := handler(accountID, input, gw)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-		payload := utils.GenerateIAMXMLPayload(action, output)
-		xmlOutput, err := utils.MarshalToXML(payload)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
-		}
-		return xmlOutput, nil
+			return input, nil
+		},
+		dispatch: func(action string, parsed any, gw *GatewayConfig, accountID string) ([]byte, error) {
+			input, ok := parsed.(*In)
+			if !ok {
+				return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
+			}
+			output, err := handler(accountID, input, gw)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, err
+			}
+			payload := utils.GenerateIAMXMLPayload(action, output)
+			xmlOutput, err := utils.MarshalToXML(payload)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
+			}
+			return xmlOutput, nil
+		},
 	}
 }
 
-var iamActions = map[string]IAMHandler{
+var iamActions = map[string]iamAction{
 	"CreateUser": iamHandler(func(accountID string, input *iam.CreateUserInput, gw *GatewayConfig) (any, error) {
 		return gateway_iam.CreateUser(accountID, input, gw.IAMService)
 	}),
@@ -323,17 +335,25 @@ func (gw *GatewayConfig) IAM_Request(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) err
 		return errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
 	}
 
-	if err := gw.checkPolicy(r, "iam", action); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
 	accountID, _ := r.Context().Value(ctxAccountID).(string)
 	if accountID == "" {
 		slog.Error("IAM_Request: no account ID in auth context")
 		return errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
 	}
 
-	xmlOutput, err := handler(action, queryArgs, gw, accountID)
+	input, err := handler.parse(queryArgs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	resources, err := gateway_iam.ResourceARNs(action, accountID, input, gw.IAMService)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if err := gw.checkPolicyResources(r, "iam", action, resources); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	xmlOutput, err := handler.dispatch(action, input, gw, accountID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/iam/authz.go b/spinifex/gateway/iam/authz.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f6d99bbf0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/iam/authz.go
@@ -0,0 +1,301 @@
+// Package gateway_iam contains IAM request validation and authorization helpers.
+package gateway_iam
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"log/slog"
+	"reflect"
+	"sort"
+
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
+	handlers_iam "github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/handlers/iam"
+)
+
+const anyResource = "*"
+
+type resourceSource uint8
+
+const (
+	sourceAccount resourceSource = iota
+	sourceCreate
+	sourceExisting
+	sourcePolicyARN
+	sourceOIDCCreate
+	sourceOIDCARN
+	sourceAccessKeyOwner
+)
+
+type resourceScope struct {
+	source    resourceSource
+	kind      arn.IAMResourceType
+	nameField string
+	pathField string
+}
+
+func createScope(kind arn.IAMResourceType, name string) resourceScope {
+	return resourceScope{source: sourceCreate, kind: kind, nameField: name, pathField: "Path"}
+}
+
+func existingScope(kind arn.IAMResourceType, name string) resourceScope {
+	return resourceScope{source: sourceExisting, kind: kind, nameField: name}
+}
+
+var iamScopes = map[string]resourceScope{
+	// Users.
+	"CreateUser":               createScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"GetUser":                  existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"DeleteUser":               existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"CreateAccessKey":          existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"ListAccessKeys":           existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"DeleteAccessKey":          existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"UpdateAccessKey":          {source: sourceAccessKeyOwner, nameField: "AccessKeyId"},
+	"AttachUserPolicy":         existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"DetachUserPolicy":         existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"ListAttachedUserPolicies": existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"PutUserPolicy":            existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"GetUserPolicy":            existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"DeleteUserPolicy":         existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"ListUserPolicies":         existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"TagUser":                  existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"UntagUser":                existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"ListUserTags":             existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+	"ListGroupsForUser":        existingScope(arn.IAMUser, "UserName"),
+
+	// Roles.
+	"CreateRole":                  createScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"GetRole":                     existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"DeleteRole":                  existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"UpdateRole":                  existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"UpdateAssumeRolePolicy":      existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"AttachRolePolicy":            existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"DetachRolePolicy":            existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"PutRolePolicy":               existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"GetRolePolicy":               existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"DeleteRolePolicy":            existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"ListAttachedRolePolicies":    existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"ListRolePolicies":            existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"TagRole":                     existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"UntagRole":                   existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"ListRoleTags":                existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+	"ListInstanceProfilesForRole": existingScope(arn.IAMRole, "RoleName"),
+
+	// Groups. Membership actions evaluate only the group.
+	"CreateGroup":               createScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+	"GetGroup":                  existingScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+	"DeleteGroup":               existingScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+	"AddUserToGroup":            existingScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+	"RemoveUserFromGroup":       existingScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+	"AttachGroupPolicy":         existingScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+	"DetachGroupPolicy":         existingScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+	"ListAttachedGroupPolicies": existingScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+	"PutGroupPolicy":            existingScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+	"GetGroupPolicy":            existingScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+	"DeleteGroupPolicy":         existingScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+	"ListGroupPolicies":         existingScope(arn.IAMGroup, "GroupName"),
+
+	// Managed policies use the exact ARN the handler requires.
+	"CreatePolicy":       createScope(arn.IAMPolicy, "PolicyName"),
+	"GetPolicy":          {source: sourcePolicyARN, nameField: "PolicyArn"},
+	"GetPolicyVersion":   {source: sourcePolicyARN, nameField: "PolicyArn"},
+	"ListPolicyVersions": {source: sourcePolicyARN, nameField: "PolicyArn"},
+	"DeletePolicy":       {source: sourcePolicyARN, nameField: "PolicyArn"},
+	"TagPolicy":          {source: sourcePolicyARN, nameField: "PolicyArn"},
+	"UntagPolicy":        {source: sourcePolicyARN, nameField: "PolicyArn"},
+	"ListPolicyTags":     {source: sourcePolicyARN, nameField: "PolicyArn"},
+
+	// Instance profiles. Role operands are IAM condition-key values, not extra resources.
+	"CreateInstanceProfile":         createScope(arn.IAMInstanceProfile, "InstanceProfileName"),
+	"GetInstanceProfile":            existingScope(arn.IAMInstanceProfile, "InstanceProfileName"),
+	"DeleteInstanceProfile":         existingScope(arn.IAMInstanceProfile, "InstanceProfileName"),
+	"AddRoleToInstanceProfile":      existingScope(arn.IAMInstanceProfile, "InstanceProfileName"),
+	"RemoveRoleFromInstanceProfile": existingScope(arn.IAMInstanceProfile, "InstanceProfileName"),
+	"TagInstanceProfile":            existingScope(arn.IAMInstanceProfile, "InstanceProfileName"),
+	"UntagInstanceProfile":          existingScope(arn.IAMInstanceProfile, "InstanceProfileName"),
+	"ListInstanceProfileTags":       existingScope(arn.IAMInstanceProfile, "InstanceProfileName"),
+
+	// OIDC providers are normalized into the caller's trusted account.
+	"CreateOpenIDConnectProvider":   {source: sourceOIDCCreate, nameField: "Url"},
+	"GetOpenIDConnectProvider":      {source: sourceOIDCARN, nameField: "OpenIDConnectProviderArn"},
+	"DeleteOpenIDConnectProvider":   {source: sourceOIDCARN, nameField: "OpenIDConnectProviderArn"},
+	"TagOpenIDConnectProvider":      {source: sourceOIDCARN, nameField: "OpenIDConnectProviderArn"},
+	"UntagOpenIDConnectProvider":    {source: sourceOIDCARN, nameField: "OpenIDConnectProviderArn"},
+	"ListOpenIDConnectProviderTags": {source: sourceOIDCARN, nameField: "OpenIDConnectProviderArn"},
+
+	// Account-wide actions are explicit entries, not omissions.
+	"ListUsers":                  {source: sourceAccount},
+	"ListPolicies":               {source: sourceAccount},
+	"ListRoles":                  {source: sourceAccount},
+	"ListInstanceProfiles":       {source: sourceAccount},
+	"ListOpenIDConnectProviders": {source: sourceAccount},
+	"ListGroups":                 {source: sourceAccount},
+	"GetAccountSummary":          {source: sourceAccount},
+}
+
+// HasScope reports whether action has an explicit IAM scope-table entry.
+func HasScope(action string) bool {
+	_, ok := iamScopes[action]
+	return ok
+}
+
+// ScopedActions returns every action represented in the IAM scope table.
+func ScopedActions() []string {
+	actions := make([]string, 0, len(iamScopes))
+	for action := range iamScopes {
+		actions = append(actions, action)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(actions)
+	return actions
+}
+
+// ResourceARNs resolves the resource an IAM request authorizes against from
+// the same parsed SDK input that dispatch receives.
+func ResourceARNs(action, accountID string, input any, svc handlers_iam.IAMService) ([]string, error) {
+	scope, ok := iamScopes[action]
+	if !ok {
+		slog.Error("IAM authz: action is served but absent from the scope table", "action", action)
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInvalidAction)
+	}
+	resource, err := scope.resolve(action, accountID, input, svc)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if resource == "" {
+		resource = anyResource
+	}
+	return []string{resource}, nil
+}
+
+func (s resourceScope) resolve(action, accountID string, input any, svc handlers_iam.IAMService) (string, error) {
+	if s.source == sourceAccount {
+		return anyResource, nil
+	}
+	target := lookupTarget{action: action, kind: string(s.kind), accountID: accountID}
+	name, err := stringField(input, s.nameField)
+	if err != nil {
+		slog.Error("IAM authz: scope field is unreadable on the handler input, failing closed",
+			"action", action, "field", s.nameField, "err", err)
+		return "", err
+	}
+	target.name = name
+	if name == "" {
+		// The handler rejects the request as a validation fault, so this
+		// widening cannot reach a mutation. Logged at Debug, not Warn.
+		slog.Debug("IAM authz: identifier absent, authorizing account-wide",
+			"action", action, "field", s.nameField, "account_id", accountID)
+		return anyResource, nil
+	}
+
+	switch s.source {
+	case sourceCreate:
+		resourcePath, err := stringField(input, s.pathField)
+		if err != nil {
+			slog.Error("IAM authz: path field is unreadable on the handler input, failing closed",
+				"action", action, "field", s.pathField, "err", err)
+			return "", err
+		}
+		return arn.FormatIAMPath(s.kind, accountID, resourcePath, name), nil
+	case sourceExisting:
+		return canonicalARN(target, s.kind, svc)
+	case sourcePolicyARN:
+		return name, nil
+	case sourceOIDCCreate:
+		hostPath, err := handlers_iam.OIDCProviderHostPathFromURL(name)
+		if hostPath == "" {
+			slog.Warn("IAM authz: issuer URL unresolvable, authorizing account-wide",
+				"action", action, "url", name, "account_id", accountID, "err", err)
+			return anyResource, nil
+		}
+		return arn.FormatIAMResource(arn.IAMOIDCProvider, accountID, hostPath), nil
+	case sourceOIDCARN:
+		hostPath, err := handlers_iam.OIDCProviderHostPathFromARN(name)
+		if hostPath == "" {
+			slog.Warn("IAM authz: provider ARN unresolvable, authorizing account-wide",
+				"action", action, "provider_arn", name, "account_id", accountID, "err", err)
+			return anyResource, nil
+		}
+		return arn.FormatIAMResource(arn.IAMOIDCProvider, accountID, hostPath), nil
+	case sourceAccessKeyOwner:
+		target.kind = "access-key"
+		key, err := svc.LookupAccessKey(name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return lookupResult(target, "", err)
+		}
+		if key == nil || key.AccountID != accountID || key.UserName == "" {
+			slog.Warn("IAM authz: access key unknown, cross-account, or ownerless, authorizing account-wide",
+				"action", action, "access_key_id", name, "account_id", accountID)
+			return anyResource, nil
+		}
+		target.kind, target.name = string(arn.IAMUser), key.UserName
+		return canonicalARN(target, arn.IAMUser, svc)
+	default:
+		slog.Error("IAM authz: unhandled resource source, failing closed",
+			"action", action, "source", s.source)
+		return "", errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
+	}
+}
+
+// lookupTarget carries the identity of the object being authorized so every
+// resolution outcome can be logged with enough context to act on.
+type lookupTarget struct {
+	action    string
+	kind      string
+	name      string
+	accountID string
+}
+
+func canonicalARN(t lookupTarget, kind arn.IAMResourceType, svc handlers_iam.IAMService) (string, error) {
+	resource, err := svc.CanonicalResourceARN(t.accountID, kind, t.name)
+	return lookupResult(t, resource, err)
+}
+
+// lookupResult widens authorization to account-wide for a missing object and
+// fails closed on a storage or decode fault. Both outcomes are logged because
+// neither is visible in the response the caller receives.
+func lookupResult(t lookupTarget, resource string, err error) (string, error) {
+	if err == nil {
+		if resource == "" {
+			slog.Error("IAM authz: stored record carries no ARN, failing closed",
+				"action", t.action, "kind", t.kind, "name", t.name, "account_id", t.accountID)
+			return "", errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
+		}
+		return resource, nil
+	}
+	if err.Error() == awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity {
+		// Authorization widens to "*", so a Deny scoped to the real target
+		// will not fire. Without this line that widening leaves no trace.
+		slog.Warn("IAM authz: target not found, authorizing account-wide",
+			"action", t.action, "kind", t.kind, "name", t.name, "account_id", t.accountID)
+		return anyResource, nil
+	}
+	slog.Error("IAM authz: canonical ARN lookup failed, failing closed",
+		"action", t.action, "kind", t.kind, "name", t.name, "account_id", t.accountID, "err", err)
+	return "", errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
+}
+
+func stringField(input any, name string) (string, error) {
+	value := reflect.ValueOf(input)
+	for value.IsValid() && value.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if value.IsNil() {
+			return "", errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
+		}
+		value = value.Elem()
+	}
+	if !value.IsValid() || value.Kind() != reflect.Struct {
+		return "", errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
+	}
+	field := value.FieldByName(name)
+	if !field.IsValid() {
+		return "", errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
+	}
+	if field.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		if field.IsNil() {
+			return "", nil
+		}
+		field = field.Elem()
+	}
+	if field.Kind() != reflect.String {
+		return "", errors.New(awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
+	}
+	return field.String(), nil
+}
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/iam/authz_test.go b/spinifex/gateway/iam/authz_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..17eb6f234
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/iam/authz_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+package gateway_iam_test
+
+import (
+	"errors"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
+	gateway_iam "github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/gateway/iam"
+	handlers_iam "github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/handlers/iam"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+const testAccount = "123456789012"
+
+type resolverService struct {
+	handlers_iam.IAMService
+
+	arns      map[arn.IAMResourceType]map[string]string
+	lookupErr error
+	key       *handlers_iam.AccessKey
+	gotKind   arn.IAMResourceType
+	gotName   string
+}
+
+func (s *resolverService) CanonicalResourceARN(_ string, kind arn.IAMResourceType, name string) (string, error) {
+	s.gotKind, s.gotName = kind, name
+	if byName := s.arns[kind]; byName != nil {
+		if resource := byName[name]; resource != "" {
+			return resource, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return "", errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+}
+
+func (s *resolverService) LookupAccessKey(_ string) (*handlers_iam.AccessKey, error) {
+	if s.lookupErr != nil {
+		return nil, s.lookupErr
+	}
+	if s.key == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+	}
+	return s.key, nil
+}
+
+func TestResourceARNs_Fidelity(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := &resolverService{arns: map[arn.IAMResourceType]map[string]string{
+		arn.IAMUser:            {"alice": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/teams/alice"},
+		arn.IAMRole:            {"app": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/service-roles/app"},
+		arn.IAMGroup:           {"ops": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:group/teams/ops"},
+		arn.IAMInstanceProfile: {"nodes": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:instance-profile/eks/nodes"},
+	}}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		action string
+		input  any
+		want   string
+	}{
+		{"create user default path", "CreateUser", &iam.CreateUserInput{UserName: aws.String("alice")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/alice"},
+		{"create nested role", "CreateRole", &iam.CreateRoleInput{RoleName: aws.String("app"), Path: aws.String("/service-roles/")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/service-roles/app"},
+		{"existing user canonical path", "DeleteUser", &iam.DeleteUserInput{UserName: aws.String("alice")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/teams/alice"},
+		{"existing role canonical path", "DeleteRole", &iam.DeleteRoleInput{RoleName: aws.String("app")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/service-roles/app"},
+		{"existing group canonical path", "DeleteGroup", &iam.DeleteGroupInput{GroupName: aws.String("ops")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:group/teams/ops"},
+		{"direct managed policy ARN", "DeletePolicy", &iam.DeletePolicyInput{PolicyArn: aws.String("arn:aws:iam::123456789012:policy/team/app")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:policy/team/app"},
+		{"existing instance profile", "DeleteInstanceProfile", &iam.DeleteInstanceProfileInput{InstanceProfileName: aws.String("nodes")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:instance-profile/eks/nodes"},
+		{"OIDC create", "CreateOpenIDConnectProvider", &iam.CreateOpenIDConnectProviderInput{Url: aws.String("https://issuer.example/id/cluster")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:oidc-provider/issuer.example/id/cluster"},
+		{"OIDC caller account normalization", "DeleteOpenIDConnectProvider", &iam.DeleteOpenIDConnectProviderInput{OpenIDConnectProviderArn: aws.String("arn:aws:iam::999999999999:oidc-provider/issuer.example/id/cluster")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:oidc-provider/issuer.example/id/cluster"},
+		{"account wide", "ListUsers", &iam.ListUsersInput{}, "*"},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := gateway_iam.ResourceARNs(tt.action, testAccount, tt.input, svc)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, []string{tt.want}, got)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResourceARNs_SecondaryOperandsAreNotResources(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := &resolverService{arns: map[arn.IAMResourceType]map[string]string{
+		arn.IAMUser:            {"alice": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/alice"},
+		arn.IAMRole:            {"app": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/app"},
+		arn.IAMGroup:           {"ops": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:group/ops"},
+		arn.IAMInstanceProfile: {"nodes": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:instance-profile/nodes"},
+	}}
+	tests := []struct {
+		action string
+		input  any
+		want   string
+	}{
+		{"AttachUserPolicy", &iam.AttachUserPolicyInput{UserName: aws.String("alice"), PolicyArn: aws.String("arn:aws:iam::123456789012:policy/p")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/alice"},
+		{"AttachRolePolicy", &iam.AttachRolePolicyInput{RoleName: aws.String("app"), PolicyArn: aws.String("arn:aws:iam::123456789012:policy/p")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/app"},
+		{"AttachGroupPolicy", &iam.AttachGroupPolicyInput{GroupName: aws.String("ops"), PolicyArn: aws.String("arn:aws:iam::123456789012:policy/p")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:group/ops"},
+		{"AddUserToGroup", &iam.AddUserToGroupInput{GroupName: aws.String("ops"), UserName: aws.String("alice")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:group/ops"},
+		{"AddRoleToInstanceProfile", &iam.AddRoleToInstanceProfileInput{InstanceProfileName: aws.String("nodes"), RoleName: aws.String("app")}, "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:instance-profile/nodes"},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.action, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := gateway_iam.ResourceARNs(tt.action, testAccount, tt.input, svc)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			assert.Equal(t, []string{tt.want}, got)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestResourceARNs_UpdateAccessKeyUsesRecordedOwner(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := &resolverService{
+		arns: map[arn.IAMResourceType]map[string]string{
+			arn.IAMUser: {"owner": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/team/owner"},
+		},
+		key: &handlers_iam.AccessKey{AccountID: testAccount, UserName: "owner"},
+	}
+	input := &iam.UpdateAccessKeyInput{
+		AccessKeyId: aws.String("AKIAEXAMPLE"),
+		UserName:    aws.String("attacker-selected"),
+	}
+	got, err := gateway_iam.ResourceARNs("UpdateAccessKey", testAccount, input, svc)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/team/owner"}, got)
+	assert.Equal(t, "owner", svc.gotName)
+
+	svc.key.AccountID = "999999999999"
+	got, err = gateway_iam.ResourceARNs("UpdateAccessKey", testAccount, input, svc)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"*"}, got)
+}
+
+func TestResourceARNs_MissingAndLookupErrors(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := &resolverService{}
+
+	got, err := gateway_iam.ResourceARNs("DeleteRole", testAccount, &iam.DeleteRoleInput{}, svc)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"*"}, got)
+
+	got, err = gateway_iam.ResourceARNs("DeleteRole", testAccount, &iam.DeleteRoleInput{RoleName: aws.String("missing")}, svc)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"*"}, got)
+
+	svc.arns = map[arn.IAMResourceType]map[string]string{}
+	svc.lookupErr = errors.New("storage unavailable")
+	_, err = gateway_iam.ResourceARNs("UpdateAccessKey", testAccount,
+		&iam.UpdateAccessKeyInput{AccessKeyId: aws.String("AKIAEXAMPLE")}, svc)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
+
+	_, err = gateway_iam.ResourceARNs("NotAnAction", testAccount, &iam.ListUsersInput{}, svc)
+	require.EqualError(t, err, awserrors.ErrorInvalidAction)
+}
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/iam_authz_completeness_test.go b/spinifex/gateway/iam_authz_completeness_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5e43cdf49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/iam_authz_completeness_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+//test:in-package — iamActions is unexported and must be compared with the scope table.
+
+package gateway
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	gateway_iam "github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/gateway/iam"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestIAMScopeTableIsExhaustive(t *testing.T) {
+	for action := range iamActions {
+		assert.True(t, gateway_iam.HasScope(action),
+			"IAM action %q has no resource scope entry", action)
+	}
+	for _, action := range gateway_iam.ScopedActions() {
+		_, ok := iamActions[action]
+		assert.True(t, ok, "IAM scope table contains unserved action %q", action)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/iam_authz_test.go b/spinifex/gateway/iam_authz_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cdc03c541
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/iam_authz_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,126 @@
+//test:in-package — exercises IAM_Request with policy and auth context helpers.
+
+package gateway
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
+	handlers_iam "github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/handlers/iam"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+type iamAuthzPolicyService struct {
+	policyMockIAMService
+
+	arns          map[string]string
+	canonicalErr  error
+	deleteRoleErr error
+	deleted       []string
+}
+
+func (s *iamAuthzPolicyService) CanonicalResourceARN(_ string, _ arn.IAMResourceType, name string) (string, error) {
+	if s.canonicalErr != nil {
+		return "", s.canonicalErr
+	}
+	resource, ok := s.arns[name]
+	if !ok {
+		return "", errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+	}
+	return resource, nil
+}
+
+func (s *iamAuthzPolicyService) DeleteRole(_ string, input *iam.DeleteRoleInput) (*iam.DeleteRoleOutput, error) {
+	s.deleted = append(s.deleted, *input.RoleName)
+	if s.deleteRoleErr != nil {
+		return nil, s.deleteRoleErr
+	}
+	return &iam.DeleteRoleOutput{}, nil
+}
+
+func iamScopedGateway(resources map[string]string, statements ...handlers_iam.Statement) (*GatewayConfig, *iamAuthzPolicyService) {
+	docs := []handlers_iam.PolicyDocument{{Version: "2012-10-17", Statement: statements}}
+	svc := &iamAuthzPolicyService{
+		policyMockIAMService: policyMockIAMService{
+			getUserPoliciesFn: func(_, _ string) ([]handlers_iam.PolicyDocument, error) { return docs, nil },
+			getRolePoliciesFn: func(_, _ string) ([]handlers_iam.PolicyDocument, error) { return docs, nil },
+		},
+		arns: resources,
+	}
+	return &GatewayConfig{DisableLogging: true, IAMService: svc}, svc
+}
+
+func dispatchIAM(t *testing.T, gw *GatewayConfig, body string) error {
+	t.Helper()
+	req := httptest.NewRequest(http.MethodPost, "/", strings.NewReader(body))
+	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/x-www-form-urlencoded")
+	ctx := context.WithValue(req.Context(), ctxService, "iam")
+	ctx = context.WithValue(ctx, ctxAccountID, authzAccountID)
+	req = withTestIdentity(req.WithContext(ctx))
+	return gw.IAM_Request(httptest.NewRecorder(), req)
+}
+
+func TestIAMRequest_ScopedDenyFires(t *testing.T) {
+	gw, svc := iamScopedGateway(map[string]string{
+		"prod": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/service-roles/prod",
+		"dev":  "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/service-roles/dev",
+	},
+		statement("Allow", "iam:*", "*"),
+		statement("Deny", "iam:DeleteRole", "arn:aws:iam::*:role/service-roles/prod"),
+	)
+
+	err := dispatchIAM(t, gw, "Action=DeleteRole&RoleName=prod")
+	require.EqualError(t, err, awserrors.ErrorAccessDenied)
+	require.NoError(t, dispatchIAM(t, gw, "Action=DeleteRole&RoleName=dev"))
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"dev"}, svc.deleted)
+}
+
+func TestIAMRequest_ScopedAllowGrants(t *testing.T) {
+	gw, svc := iamScopedGateway(map[string]string{
+		"prod": "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/service-roles/prod",
+		"dev":  "arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/service-roles/dev",
+	}, statement("Allow", "iam:DeleteRole", "arn:aws:iam::*:role/service-roles/dev"))
+
+	require.NoError(t, dispatchIAM(t, gw, "Action=DeleteRole&RoleName=dev"))
+	err := dispatchIAM(t, gw, "Action=DeleteRole&RoleName=prod")
+	require.EqualError(t, err, awserrors.ErrorAccessDenied)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"dev"}, svc.deleted)
+}
+
+func TestIAMRequest_MissingTargetAndLookupFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("account-wide grant reaches handler no-such-entity", func(t *testing.T) {
+		gw, svc := iamScopedGateway(nil, statement("Allow", "iam:*", "*"))
+		svc.deleteRoleErr = errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+		err := dispatchIAM(t, gw, "Action=DeleteRole&RoleName=missing")
+		require.EqualError(t, err, awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("scoped grant denies unresolved target", func(t *testing.T) {
+		gw, _ := iamScopedGateway(nil,
+			statement("Allow", "iam:DeleteRole", "arn:aws:iam::*:role/missing"))
+		err := dispatchIAM(t, gw, "Action=DeleteRole&RoleName=missing")
+		require.EqualError(t, err, awserrors.ErrorAccessDenied)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("storage failure fails closed", func(t *testing.T) {
+		gw, svc := iamScopedGateway(nil, statement("Allow", "iam:*", "*"))
+		svc.canonicalErr = errors.New("storage unavailable")
+		err := dispatchIAM(t, gw, "Action=DeleteRole&RoleName=app")
+		require.EqualError(t, err, awserrors.ErrorInternalError)
+		assert.Empty(t, svc.deleted)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestIAMRequest_MissingIdentifierStaysValidationFault(t *testing.T) {
+	gw, _ := iamScopedGateway(nil, statement("Allow", "iam:*", "*"))
+	err := dispatchIAM(t, gw, "Action=DeleteRole")
+	require.EqualError(t, err, awserrors.ErrorMissingParameter)
+}
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/iam_request_test.go b/spinifex/gateway/iam_request_test.go
index cf7462198..171d363b3 100644
--- a/spinifex/gateway/iam_request_test.go
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/iam_request_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
 	handlers_iam "github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/handlers/iam"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -23,14 +24,16 @@ import (
 type flexMockIAMService struct {
 	handlers_iam.IAMService
 
-	createUserFn      func(string, *iam.CreateUserInput) (*iam.CreateUserOutput, error)
-	getUserFn         func(string, *iam.GetUserInput) (*iam.GetUserOutput, error)
-	listUsersFn       func(string, *iam.ListUsersInput) (*iam.ListUsersOutput, error)
-	deleteUserFn      func(string, *iam.DeleteUserInput) (*iam.DeleteUserOutput, error)
-	createAccessKeyFn func(string, *iam.CreateAccessKeyInput) (*iam.CreateAccessKeyOutput, error)
-	listAccessKeysFn  func(string, *iam.ListAccessKeysInput) (*iam.ListAccessKeysOutput, error)
-	deleteAccessKeyFn func(string, *iam.DeleteAccessKeyInput) (*iam.DeleteAccessKeyOutput, error)
-	updateAccessKeyFn func(string, *iam.UpdateAccessKeyInput) (*iam.UpdateAccessKeyOutput, error)
+	createUserFn           func(string, *iam.CreateUserInput) (*iam.CreateUserOutput, error)
+	getUserFn              func(string, *iam.GetUserInput) (*iam.GetUserOutput, error)
+	listUsersFn            func(string, *iam.ListUsersInput) (*iam.ListUsersOutput, error)
+	deleteUserFn           func(string, *iam.DeleteUserInput) (*iam.DeleteUserOutput, error)
+	createAccessKeyFn      func(string, *iam.CreateAccessKeyInput) (*iam.CreateAccessKeyOutput, error)
+	listAccessKeysFn       func(string, *iam.ListAccessKeysInput) (*iam.ListAccessKeysOutput, error)
+	deleteAccessKeyFn      func(string, *iam.DeleteAccessKeyInput) (*iam.DeleteAccessKeyOutput, error)
+	updateAccessKeyFn      func(string, *iam.UpdateAccessKeyInput) (*iam.UpdateAccessKeyOutput, error)
+	canonicalResourceARNFn func(string, arn.IAMResourceType, string) (string, error)
+	lookupAccessKeyFn      func(string) (*handlers_iam.AccessKey, error)
 
 	getAccountSummaryFn func(string, *iam.GetAccountSummaryInput) (*iam.GetAccountSummaryOutput, error)
 }
@@ -91,6 +94,20 @@ func (m *flexMockIAMService) UpdateAccessKey(accountID string, input *iam.Update
 	return &iam.UpdateAccessKeyOutput{}, nil
 }
 
+func (m *flexMockIAMService) CanonicalResourceARN(accountID string, kind arn.IAMResourceType, name string) (string, error) {
+	if m.canonicalResourceARNFn != nil {
+		return m.canonicalResourceARNFn(accountID, kind, name)
+	}
+	return arn.FormatIAMPath(kind, accountID, "/", name), nil
+}
+
+func (m *flexMockIAMService) LookupAccessKey(accessKeyID string) (*handlers_iam.AccessKey, error) {
+	if m.lookupAccessKeyFn != nil {
+		return m.lookupAccessKeyFn(accessKeyID)
+	}
+	return &handlers_iam.AccessKey{AccessKeyID: accessKeyID, AccountID: "000000000000", UserName: "user"}, nil
+}
+
 func (m *flexMockIAMService) GetAccountSummary(accountID string, input *iam.GetAccountSummaryInput) (*iam.GetAccountSummaryOutput, error) {
 	if m.getAccountSummaryFn != nil {
 		return m.getAccountSummaryFn(accountID, input)
diff --git a/spinifex/gateway/policy/evaluator_test.go b/spinifex/gateway/policy/evaluator_test.go
index 7fcb1d57b..aa54efb28 100644
--- a/spinifex/gateway/policy/evaluator_test.go
+++ b/spinifex/gateway/policy/evaluator_test.go
@@ -151,6 +151,22 @@ func TestEvaluate_ResourceScopedStatementsNeedARealARN(t *testing.T) {
 // Resource "*" for the action, and "*" as a pattern matches any ARN value, so
 // handing the evaluator a real ARN cannot turn an Allow into a Deny — not even
 // a malformed one, which bounds a resolver bug to the newly-scoped statements.
+func TestEvaluate_IAMResourceARNs(t *testing.T) {
+	resources := []string{
+		"arn:aws:iam::123456789012:user/alice",
+		"arn:aws:iam::123456789012:role/service-roles/app",
+		"arn:aws:iam::123456789012:policy/team/app",
+		"arn:aws:iam::123456789012:instance-profile/eks/nodes",
+		"arn:aws:iam::123456789012:oidc-provider/issuer.example/id/cluster",
+	}
+	for _, resource := range resources {
+		policies := []handlers_iam.PolicyDocument{doc("Allow", "iam:Delete*", resource)}
+		if got := iampolicy.EvaluateWithKeys("iam:DeleteRole", resource, policies, nil); got != iampolicy.Allow {
+			t.Errorf("IAM scoped policy against %q: got %v, want Allow", resource, got)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestEvaluate_PassingARealARNCannotWithdrawAccess(t *testing.T) {
 	resources := []string{
 		"*",
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/ecs/instancerole.go b/spinifex/handlers/ecs/instancerole.go
index 4257801cb..6bc07cd9e 100644
--- a/spinifex/handlers/ecs/instancerole.go
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/ecs/instancerole.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
 )
 
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ func (s *Service) ensureECSRole(accountID string) error {
 // ensureECSRolePolicy creates the ecs:* policy (resolving an existing one on a
 // race) and attaches it to the role; an already-attached policy is success.
 func (s *Service) ensureECSRolePolicy(accountID string) error {
-	policyARN := fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:policy/%s", accountID, ecsInstanceRolePolicyName)
+	policyARN := arn.FormatIAMPath(arn.IAMPolicy, accountID, "/", ecsInstanceRolePolicyName)
 
 	out, err := s.deps.IAM.CreatePolicy(accountID, &iam.CreatePolicyInput{
 		PolicyName:     aws.String(ecsInstanceRolePolicyName),
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/authorization.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/authorization.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8691af24b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/authorization.go
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+package handlers_iam
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
+)
+
+// canonicalARNAttempts bounds retries of a transient JetStream fault. This read
+// gates every name-addressed IAM request, so a leader election that the policy
+// snapshot resolver rides out must not fail the request here instead.
+const canonicalARNAttempts = 3
+
+// CanonicalResourceARN returns the ARN stored on a name-addressed IAM record.
+// It avoids public IAM operations that perform membership or attachment scans.
+func (s *IAMServiceImpl) CanonicalResourceARN(accountID string, kind arn.IAMResourceType, name string) (string, error) {
+	var resource string
+	var err error
+	for attempt := range canonicalARNAttempts {
+		resource, err = s.canonicalResourceARN(accountID, kind, name)
+		if err == nil || !isNATSTransient(err) {
+			break
+		}
+		if attempt < canonicalARNAttempts-1 {
+			slog.Debug("CanonicalResourceARN: transient NATS error, retrying",
+				"accountID", accountID, "kind", kind, "name", name, "attempt", attempt+1, "err", err)
+			time.Sleep(time.Duration(attempt+1) * 200 * time.Millisecond)
+		}
+	}
+	return resource, err
+}
+
+func isNATSTransient(err error) bool {
+	return err != nil && (errors.Is(err, nats.ErrNoResponders) ||
+		errors.Is(err, nats.ErrTimeout) ||
+		errors.Is(err, nats.ErrNoStreamResponse))
+}
+
+func (s *IAMServiceImpl) canonicalResourceARN(accountID string, kind arn.IAMResourceType, name string) (string, error) {
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	switch kind {
+	case arn.IAMUser:
+		resource, err := s.getUser(ctx, accountID, name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		return resource.ARN, nil
+	case arn.IAMRole:
+		resource, err := s.getRole(ctx, accountID, name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		return resource.ARN, nil
+	case arn.IAMGroup:
+		resource, err := s.getGroup(ctx, accountID, name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		return resource.ARN, nil
+	case arn.IAMPolicy:
+		resource, err := s.getPolicyByName(ctx, accountID, name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		return resource.ARN, nil
+	case arn.IAMInstanceProfile:
+		resource, err := s.getInstanceProfile(ctx, accountID, name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return "", err
+		}
+		return resource.ARN, nil
+	default:
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("unsupported IAM resource type %q", kind)
+	}
+}
+
+func (s *IAMServiceImpl) getPolicyByName(ctx context.Context, accountID, policyName string) (*Policy, error) {
+	entry, err := s.policiesBucket.Get(ctx, accountID+"."+policyName)
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrKeyNotFound) {
+			return nil, errors.New(awserrors.ErrorIAMNoSuchEntity)
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("get policy: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var policy Policy
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(entry.Value(), &policy); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unmarshal policy: %w", err)
+	}
+	return &policy, nil
+}
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/authorization_test.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/authorization_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3f3204937
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/authorization_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+//test:in-package — uses setupTestIAMService and testAccountID, unexported fixtures shared with the other handler tests.
+
+package handlers_iam
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
+	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestCanonicalResourceARNPreservesStoredPaths(t *testing.T) {
+	svc := setupTestIAMService(t)
+	trust := `{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Allow","Principal":{"Service":"ec2.amazonaws.com"},"Action":"sts:AssumeRole"}]}`
+	policy := `{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Allow","Action":"s3:*","Resource":"*"}]}`
+
+	_, err := svc.CreateUser(testAccountID, &iam.CreateUserInput{UserName: aws.String("alice"), Path: aws.String("/teams/")})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	_, err = svc.CreateRole(testAccountID, &iam.CreateRoleInput{RoleName: aws.String("app"), Path: aws.String("/service-roles/"), AssumeRolePolicyDocument: aws.String(trust)})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	_, err = svc.CreateGroup(testAccountID, &iam.CreateGroupInput{GroupName: aws.String("ops"), Path: aws.String("/teams/")})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	_, err = svc.CreatePolicy(testAccountID, &iam.CreatePolicyInput{PolicyName: aws.String("app"), Path: aws.String("/managed/"), PolicyDocument: aws.String(policy)})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	_, err = svc.CreateInstanceProfile(testAccountID, &iam.CreateInstanceProfileInput{InstanceProfileName: aws.String("nodes"), Path: aws.String("/eks/")})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		kind arn.IAMResourceType
+		name string
+		want string
+	}{
+		{arn.IAMUser, "alice", "arn:aws:iam::000000000000:user/teams/alice"},
+		{arn.IAMRole, "app", "arn:aws:iam::000000000000:role/service-roles/app"},
+		{arn.IAMGroup, "ops", "arn:aws:iam::000000000000:group/teams/ops"},
+		{arn.IAMPolicy, "app", "arn:aws:iam::000000000000:policy/managed/app"},
+		{arn.IAMInstanceProfile, "nodes", "arn:aws:iam::000000000000:instance-profile/eks/nodes"},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(string(tt.kind), func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, err := svc.CanonicalResourceARN(testAccountID, tt.kind, tt.name)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.Equal(t, tt.want, got)
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/groups.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/groups.go
index 0dc1e08fb..739c22773 100644
--- a/spinifex/handlers/iam/groups.go
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/groups.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/kvutil"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/utils"
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ func (s *IAMServiceImpl) CreateGroup(accountID string, input *iam.CreateGroupInp
 		GroupName:        groupName,
 		GroupID:          groupID,
 		AccountID:        accountID,
-		ARN:              fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:group%s%s", accountID, path, groupName),
+		ARN:              arn.FormatIAMPath(arn.IAMGroup, accountID, path, groupName),
 		Path:             path,
 		CreatedAt:        time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
 		AttachedPolicies: []string{},
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/instance_profiles.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/instance_profiles.go
index 6fded06f9..38c0ae3e3 100644
--- a/spinifex/handlers/iam/instance_profiles.go
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/instance_profiles.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/kvutil"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/utils"
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ func (s *IAMServiceImpl) CreateInstanceProfile(accountID string, input *iam.Crea
 		InstanceProfileName: profileName,
 		InstanceProfileID:   profileID,
 		AccountID:           accountID,
-		ARN:                 fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:instance-profile%s%s", accountID, path, profileName),
+		ARN:                 arn.FormatIAMPath(arn.IAMInstanceProfile, accountID, path, profileName),
 		Path:                path,
 		CreatedAt:           time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
 		Tags:                copyTags(input.Tags),
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/oidc_providers.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/oidc_providers.go
index 6d5055df5..6e6979182 100644
--- a/spinifex/handlers/iam/oidc_providers.go
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/oidc_providers.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
+	resourcearn "github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/kvutil"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/utils"
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ func OIDCProviderKey(issuer string) string {
 // OIDCProviderARN returns the arn:aws:iam::{accountID}:oidc-provider/{issuerHostPath} ARN.
 // issuerHostPath is the issuer URL with the https:// scheme stripped.
 func OIDCProviderARN(accountID, issuerHostPath string) string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:oidc-provider/%s", accountID, issuerHostPath)
+	return resourcearn.FormatIAMResource(resourcearn.IAMOIDCProvider, accountID, issuerHostPath)
 }
 
 // GetOrCreateIAMAccountBucket opens the per-account IAM bucket, creating it on first use.
@@ -63,34 +64,51 @@ type OIDCProviderRecord struct {
 	Tags           []Tag    `json:"tags,omitempty"`
 }
 
-// issuerFromOIDCProviderARN reverses OIDCProviderARN, reconstructing the full https issuer URL.
-func issuerFromOIDCProviderARN(arn string) (string, error) {
-	_, hostPath, ok := strings.Cut(arn, ":oidc-provider/")
+// OIDCProviderHostPathFromARN extracts the provider component accepted by IAM
+// handlers. The account segment is intentionally not trusted by callers.
+func OIDCProviderHostPathFromARN(providerARN string) (string, error) {
+	_, hostPath, ok := strings.Cut(providerARN, ":oidc-provider/")
 	if !ok {
 		return "", errors.New("not an oidc-provider ARN")
 	}
 	if hostPath == "" {
 		return "", errors.New("oidc-provider ARN missing host/path")
 	}
+	return hostPath, nil
+}
+
+// OIDCProviderHostPathFromURL validates an issuer and returns its exact
+// resource component without normalizing host or path text.
+func OIDCProviderHostPathFromURL(raw string) (string, error) {
+	if raw == "" {
+		return "", errors.New("url is required")
+	}
+	u, err := url.Parse(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("parse url: %w", err)
+	}
+	if u.Scheme != "https" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("url scheme must be https, got %q", u.Scheme)
+	}
+	if u.Host == "" {
+		return "", errors.New("url missing host")
+	}
+	return strings.TrimPrefix(raw, "https://"), nil
+}
+
+// issuerFromOIDCProviderARN reverses OIDCProviderARN, reconstructing the full https issuer URL.
+func issuerFromOIDCProviderARN(providerARN string) (string, error) {
+	hostPath, err := OIDCProviderHostPathFromARN(providerARN)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
 	return "https://" + hostPath, nil
 }
 
 // validateOIDCProviderURL enforces the issuer shape: a parseable https URL with a non-empty host.
 func validateOIDCProviderURL(raw string) error {
-	if raw == "" {
-		return errors.New("url is required")
-	}
-	u, err := url.Parse(raw)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("parse url: %w", err)
-	}
-	if u.Scheme != "https" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("url scheme must be https, got %q", u.Scheme)
-	}
-	if u.Host == "" {
-		return errors.New("url missing host")
-	}
-	return nil
+	_, err := OIDCProviderHostPathFromURL(raw)
+	return err
 }
 
 func awsStrings(in []*string) []string {
@@ -135,7 +153,8 @@ func (s *IAMServiceImpl) CreateOpenIDConnectProvider(accountID string, input *ia
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("store OIDC provider: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	arn := OIDCProviderARN(accountID, strings.TrimPrefix(issuer, "https://"))
+	issuerHostPath, _ := OIDCProviderHostPathFromURL(issuer)
+	arn := OIDCProviderARN(accountID, issuerHostPath)
 	slog.Info("IAM OIDC provider created", "accountID", accountID, "url", issuer, "arn", arn)
 	return &iam.CreateOpenIDConnectProviderOutput{
 		OpenIDConnectProviderArn: aws.String(arn),
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/provision.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/provision.go
index d9aef893a..2afbc0fca 100644
--- a/spinifex/handlers/iam/provision.go
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/provision.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/aws"
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
 )
 
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@ func ProvisionAccount(svc IAMService, accountID, name string) (*ProvisionedAccou
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("create admin policy: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	policyARN := fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:policy/%s", accountID, AdminPolicyName)
+	policyARN := arn.FormatIAMPath(arn.IAMPolicy, accountID, "/", AdminPolicyName)
 	if _, err := svc.AttachUserPolicy(accountID, &iam.AttachUserPolicyInput{
 		UserName:  aws.String(AdminUserName),
 		PolicyArn: aws.String(policyARN),
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/roles.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/roles.go
index a39e298f4..bf9802ddc 100644
--- a/spinifex/handlers/iam/roles.go
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/roles.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/kvutil"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/utils"
@@ -72,7 +73,7 @@ func (s *IAMServiceImpl) CreateRole(accountID string, input *iam.CreateRoleInput
 		RoleName:                 roleName,
 		RoleID:                   roleID,
 		AccountID:                accountID,
-		ARN:                      fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:role%s%s", accountID, path, roleName),
+		ARN:                      arn.FormatIAMPath(arn.IAMRole, accountID, path, roleName),
 		Path:                     path,
 		Description:              aws.StringValue(input.Description),
 		AssumeRolePolicyDocument: *input.AssumeRolePolicyDocument,
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/service.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/service.go
index ef2cdc5e9..47cc2f34e 100644
--- a/spinifex/handlers/iam/service.go
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/service.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package handlers_iam
 
 import (
 	"github.com/aws/aws-sdk-go/service/iam"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
 )
 
 // IAMService defines the interface for IAM operations.
@@ -118,6 +119,10 @@ type IAMService interface {
 	// check; the gateway also enforces this and returns AccessDenied.
 	ResolveInstanceProfile(accountID, nameOrARN string) (*InstanceProfile, error)
 
+	// CanonicalResourceARN resolves a name-addressed IAM object to the ARN
+	// persisted on its record, preserving the object's full path.
+	CanonicalResourceARN(accountID string, kind arn.IAMResourceType, name string) (string, error)
+
 	// Policy evaluation (internal — used by gateway enforcement)
 	GetUserPolicies(accountID, userName string) ([]PolicyDocument, error)
 	// GetRolePolicies resolves an assumed-role session's permission policies for
diff --git a/spinifex/handlers/iam/service_impl.go b/spinifex/handlers/iam/service_impl.go
index 6e40baaad..260073bb2 100644
--- a/spinifex/handlers/iam/service_impl.go
+++ b/spinifex/handlers/iam/service_impl.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/mulgadc/bluebottle/pkg/iampolicy"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/bluebottle/pkg/masterkey"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/admin"
+	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/arn"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/awserrors"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/kvutil"
 	"github.com/mulgadc/spinifex/spinifex/migrate"
@@ -339,7 +340,7 @@ func (s *IAMServiceImpl) CreateUser(accountID string, input *iam.CreateUserInput
 		UserName:         userName,
 		UserID:           userID,
 		AccountID:        accountID,
-		ARN:              fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:user%s%s", accountID, path, userName),
+		ARN:              arn.FormatIAMPath(arn.IAMUser, accountID, path, userName),
 		Path:             path,
 		CreatedAt:        time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339),
 		AccessKeys:       []string{},
@@ -836,7 +837,7 @@ func (s *IAMServiceImpl) seedAdminAccount(ctx context.Context, admin *AdminBoots
 	}
 
 	// Create AdministratorAccess policy
-	policyARN := fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:policy/AdministratorAccess", admin.AccountID)
+	policyARN := arn.FormatIAMPath(arn.IAMPolicy, admin.AccountID, "/", "AdministratorAccess")
 	policyDoc := `{"Version":"2012-10-17","Statement":[{"Effect":"Allow","Action":"*","Resource":"*"}]}`
 	policyID, err := generateIAMID("ANPA")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -872,7 +873,7 @@ func (s *IAMServiceImpl) seedAdminAccount(ctx context.Context, admin *AdminBoots
 		UserName:         admin.UserName,
 		UserID:           adminUserID,
 		AccountID:        admin.AccountID,
-		ARN:              fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:user/%s", admin.AccountID, admin.UserName),
+		ARN:              arn.FormatIAMPath(arn.IAMUser, admin.AccountID, "/", admin.UserName),
 		Path:             "/",
 		CreatedAt:        now,
 		AccessKeys:       []string{admin.AccessKeyID},
@@ -1191,7 +1192,7 @@ func (s *IAMServiceImpl) CreatePolicy(accountID string, input *iam.CreatePolicyI
 	policy := Policy{
 		PolicyName:     policyName,
 		PolicyID:       newPolicyID,
-		ARN:            fmt.Sprintf("arn:aws:iam::%s:policy%s%s", accountID, path, policyName),
+		ARN:            arn.FormatIAMPath(arn.IAMPolicy, accountID, path, policyName),
 		Path:           path,
 		Description:    aws.StringValue(input.Description),
 		PolicyDocument: *input.PolicyDocument,