Iran Sanctions - Foreign Press Centers

Iran Sanctions
in part, against firms, including a joint venture between Nokia (Finland) and Siemens (Germany),
reportedly sold Internet monitoring and censorship technology to Iran in 2008. 34 Perhaps to avoid
further embarrassment, Siemens announced on January 27, 2010, that it would stop signing new
business deals in Iran as of mid-2010. 35 There is some concern that a large Chinese firm, Huawei,
might have sold Iran Internet monitoring or censorship gear as part of its work in Iran’s
communications industry although there is no clear information that it has done so.
Implementation
In line with this trend, on March 8, 2010, OFAC amended the Iran Transactions Regulations that
implement the U.S.-Iran trade ban to provide for a general license for providing to Iranians free
mass market software in order to facilitate internet communications. The ruling appeared to
incorporate the major features of a proposal in the 111 th Congress, H.R. 4301, the “Iran Digital
Empowerment Act.” The OFAC determination required a waiver of the provision of the Iran-Iraq
Arms Nonproliferation Act (§1606 waiver provision) discussed above.
The Administration took a further step on March 20, 2012, announcing a new licensing policy to
promote Internet freedom in Iran. The announcement seemed to reflect President Obama’s
Nowruz message that same day, saying the United States is committed to promoting Internet
freedom in Iran against counter-efforts by the regime. The Treasury Department announced that
several additional types of software and information technology products would be able to be
exported to Iran under general license, including personal communications, personal data storage,
browsers, plug-ins, document readers, and free mobile applications related to personal
communications. The exports are provided the products are available at no cost to the user. 36
To counter some of the efforts above, and among other measures, in 2011 the Iranian government
established a “cyber police” force. Part of the force’s duties is to sensitize young Iranians to the
government view that Western countries are using the Internet to undermine Iran’s Islamic values
and government. 37
Measures to Sanction Human Rights Abuses and
Promote the Opposition
Another part of the effort to help Iran’s opposition has been legislation to sanction regime
officials involved in suppressing the domestic opposition in Iran. Senator John McCain proposed
to offer amendments to S. 2799 (the Senate version of what became H.R. 2194) to focus on
banning travel and freezing assets of those Iranians determined to be human rights abusers. These
provisions were included in the conference report on CISADA. The provisions were similar to
those of Senator McCain’s earlier stand alone bill, S. 3022, the “Iran Human Rights Sanctions
Act.” Companion measures in the House were H.R. 4647 and H.R. 4649.
34
Rhoads, Christopher. “Iran’s Web Spying Aided by Western Technology.” Wall Street Journal, June 22, 2009.
35
End, Aurelia. “Siemens Quits Iran Amid Mounting Diplomatic Tensions.” Agence France Press, January 27, 2010.
36
Fact Sheet: Treasury Issues Interpretive Guidance and Statement of Licensing Policy on Internet Freedom in Iran,.
March 20, 2012.
37
Thomas Erdbink. “Iran’s Cyber Police Battle the Lure of the Internet.” Washington Post, October 30. 2011.
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