OFAC Issues Rules On Transactions of Personal Communications Equipment to Iran
The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a General License detailing certain services, software and hardwire related to personal communications that can be exported and reexported to Iran on May 30. General License D lists all authorized transactions in that category. the License does not exempt businesses from the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations. Authorized transactions -- exportation or reexportation, directly or indirectly -- are:
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- Fee-based services related to the exchange of personal communications over the Internet, including instant messaging, social networking, blogging, photo sharing and web browsing. The License does not authorize those transactions, however, if the end-user is a person whose property and interests in property are blocked by OFAC. Or if the goods or services are intended for the government of Iran. Transfers of funds from Iran, or for a person in Iran, to further one of those transactions may be processed by U.S. depository institutions and by U.S. brokers, as long as the transfer is consistent with 31 CFR 560.516. That section details illegal transactions, such ones to people with interests blocked pursuant to Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators Sanctions Regulations.
- Fee-based software subject to the Export Administration Regulations necessary to enable the above services, as long as such software is designated as EAR99 or is classified in the Commerce’s Export Classification Control Number 5D992.c
- Software and hardware subject to the EAR and related to personal communications
- Consumer-grade Internet connectivity services and the provision, sale or leasing of capacity on telecommunications transmission facilities incident to personal communications
General License D does not authorize the following exports or reexports, whether direct or indirect, of:
- Commercial-grade Internet connectivity services or telecommunications transmission facilities, such as dedicated satellite links or dedicated lines that include quality of service guarantees
- Web-hosting services for purposes other than personal communications or domain name registration services
Read General License D (here).