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F ederal

reserve

Ba n k

DALLAS, TEXAS

of

Dallas

75222

Circular No. 80-93
May 12, 1980

IRANIAN ASSETS CONTROL REGULATIONS
TO ALL BANKS
AND OTHERS CONCERNED IN THE
ELEVENTH FEDERAL RESERVE DISTRICT:
Enclosed are additional amendments effective April 30, 1980 to
the Treasury D epartm ent's Iranian Assets Control Regulations.
Sincerely yours,
Robert H. Boykin
First Vice President
Enclosure

This publication was digitized and made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' Historical Library (FedHistory@dal.frb.org)

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Office of Foreign Assets Control
31 CFR Part 535
Iranian Assets Control Regulations
AGENCY:

Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Office of Foreign Assets Control is amending the Iranian Assets
Control Regulations. The purpose of the amendment is to add certain i n t e r ­
pretativ e provisions, licenses and statements of licensing policy, and
procedural provisions. The need for the amendment is to c l a r if y the e ffe c t
and scope of additional prohibitions added to the Regulations by amendments
published on April 9 and 21, 1980. The e ff e c t of the amendment is th a t
these additional in te r p r e ta tiv e , policy and procedural provisions will now
be available in published form.
EFFECTIVE DATE:

April 30, 1980.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis M. O'Connell, Chief Counsel, Office
of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury, Washington, D.C.
20220, (202) 376-0236.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Since the Regulations involve a foreign a f f a ir s
function, the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553,
requiring notice of proposed rule making, opportunity for public p a rtic ip a ­
tion and delay in effective date are inapplicable.
On April 9, 1980, the Office published §§535.206 and 535.207
imposing additional financial and trade sanctions on Iran (45 FR 24432).
New §535.429 published today in te rp r e ts the trade prohibition in §535.207(a)
(1) as including the exportation of technical data in any form. New §535.430
fu rth er in te rp re ts the prohibition as including the s a le , supply or other
tra n s fe r of items, commodities or products for incorporation in foreignmanufactured goods where the U.S. exporter has reasonable cause to believe
th at the foreign-manufactured goods are intended for export to Iran.
New §535.575 is a general license for the exportation to Iran of
newspapers, magazines, journals, new sletters, books, film s, phonograph records,
photographs, microfilms, microfiche, tapes and sim ilar m aterial.
The general
license does not apply to materials which are principally devoted to the
dissemination of technical data.
New §535.577 is a general license for the exportation to Iran of
household goods and personal e ffe c ts of Iranian individuals departing the
United States. The general license does not apply to goods in comnercial
q u a n titie s.

-2New §535.603 sets forth the procedure to be followed in giving
notice to the Office pursuant to §§535.206(b) and 535.207(b) which require
notice by the U.S. parent firm 10 days prio r to entry of i t s foreign a f f i l i ­
ate into any transaction covered by S§535.206(a) and 535.207(a).
On April 21, 1980, the Office published additional r e s tr ic tio n s
with respect to Iran, including prohibitions on remittances to any person
in Iran, travel r e s t r i c t i o n s , and a prohibition on imports from Iran and
of Iranian-origin goods. (45 FR 26940.)
New §535.426 c l a r i f i e s the prohibition on remittances. Remittances
to th ird countries are not prohibited unless the rem itter knows or has
reasonable cause to believe th a t the remitted funds are being transferred
to the country of Iran. The new section also c l a r i f i e s the l i a b i l i t y of
remitting banks under §535.206(a)(4). I t makes clear th a t U.S. banks are
not responsible for policing the multitude of items processed ele c tro n ic a lly
but must not complete transactions where current and actual knowledge pro­
vides information th a t gives reasonable cause to believe t h a t the remittance
is prohibited.
New §535.427 c l a r i f i e s th a t the prohibition in 1535.206(a)(4)
includes payments of dividends, i n t e r e s t , and other periodic payments.
New §535.428 explains th a t acceptance of free sponsorship or
support for travel to or travel and maintenance in Iran is a "transaction"
or "transfer" prohibited by the travel r e s tr i c ti o n s of §535.209(a).
New §535.431 c l a r i f i e s th a t the prohibition on importation of
Iranian-origin merchandise does not apply to such merchandise where the b ill
of lading is dated on or before April 17, 1980, indicating th at the merchandise
l e f t Iran on or before th a t date.
New §535.528 authorizes certain transactions by persons subject to
the ju r is d ic t io n of the United States in connection with the f i li n g or
prosecution of an application fo r, or certain other proceedings involving,
an Iranian patent, trademark, or copyright.
New §535.550 sets forth the licensing policy on imports of publica­
tions and sim ilar items from Iran.
New §§535.562(c) and 535.578 are general licenses authorizing the
importation of passengers' baggage by U.S. c i ti z e n s , dual n atio n als, persons
engaged in news gathering operations and certain other persons.
The general license in §535.563 for family remittances is being
amended by the addition of paragraph (d) placing a monthly lim it of $1000
on such remittances per payee or per household.
New §535.576 contains a general license authorizing payment by
persons subject to the ju r is d ic t io n of the United States of existing non­
d o lla r l e t t e r s of c re d it in favor of Iranian e n t i t i e s or persons in Iran
where l e t t e r s of c re d it are denominated in foreign currencies.

-3 1.

§535.426 is added as follows:
§535.426 Remittances involving persons in Iran .

(a) Remittances to countries other than Iran are not prohibited by
§535.206(a)(4) unless the rem itter knows or has reasonable cause to believe
th at the funds are being transferred d ire c tly or in d ire c tly to Iran.
(b) Subject to the requirement of paragraph (c) of th is section,
l i a b i l i t y of a U.S. bank under §535.206(a)(4) in connection with a payment
made on the order of a party other than the bank is limited to the following
transactions:
(1)

Payment from an account held by the bank for a person located

in Iran;
(2) Payment from any other account where the bank has actual and
current knowledge of facts th a t give reasonable cause to believe th at the
payment is being made in violation of 1535.206(a)(4).
(c) U.S. banks are required to disseminate information about the
prohibitions contained in §535.206(a)(4) and the provisions of th is section
to a l l offices and employees.
2.

§535.427 is added as follows:
§535.427 Dividends, i n t e r e s t , and other periodic payments to Iran .

The prohibition of tra n sfe rs to persons in Iran contained in
§535.206( a ) (4) applies to a ll payments and t r a n s f e r s , including payment or
tr a n s f e r of dividend checks, i n te r e s t payments and other periodic payments.
3.

§535.428 is added as follows:
§535.428 Sponsored travel and maintenance of U.S. nationals in Iran .

The receip t or acceptance by any person who is a U.S. c itiz e n or
U.S. permanent resident alien of any g ra tu ity , grant, or support in the form
of meals, lodging, payments of travel or maintenance expenses, or otherwise,
in connection with travel to or travel and maintenance within Iran co n stitutes
a transaction or tra n s fe r within the meaning of the prohibition se t forth in
§535.209(a).
4.

§535.429 is added as follows:
§535.429 Exportation of technical data prohibited.

(a)
The prohibition in §535.207(a)(1) includes tra n sfe rs of informa
tio n , in eye-readable or machine-readable form, intended for use, d ire c tly or
in d ire c tly , in the design, production* manufacture, reconstruction, servicing,
operation or use of any product.

(b)
The prohibition on the exportation of technical data extends
not only to unpublished technical information that is not available to the
public, but also to published technical data such as operating, rep air or
service manuals for automotive or industrial equipment th a t are available
through commercial sources such as book d is tr ib u to rs .
5.

§535.430 is added as follows:
§535.430 U.S. components of foreign-made goods.

The prohibitions in §535.207(a)(1) apply to the sa le , supply or
other tra n s fe r a f t e r the effective date of §535.207 of items, commodities
or products for incorporation in foreign-manufactured goods where the
person subject to the ju ris d ic tio n of the United States has reasonable cause
to believe th a t those goods are intended for export to Iran.
6.

§535.431 is added as follows:
§535.431 Goods in t r a n s i t .

Shipments of Iranian origin merchandise covered by a b ill of
ading dated on or before April 17, 1980 are not within the prohibition in
535.204.

1.

§535.528 is added as follows:
§535.528 Certain transactions with respect to Iranian p atents,
trademarks and copyrights authorized.

(a)
The following transactions by any person subject to the
ju ris d ic tio n of the United States are authorized:
(1) The f i li n g and prosecution of any application for an Iranian
patent, trademark or copyright, or for the renewal thereof;
(2)

The receipt of any Iranian

patent, trademark or copyright;

(3) The f i l i n g and prosecution of opposition or infringement pro­
ceedings with respect to any Iranian patent, trademark, or copyright, and
the prosecution of a defense to any such proceedings;
(4) The payment of fees currently due to the government of Iran,
eith er d irectly or through an attorney or representative, in connection with
any of the transactions authorized by subparagraphs (a) (1), (2), and (3) of
this paragraph or for the maintenance of any Iranian patent, trademark or
copyright; and
(5) The payment of reasonable and customary fees currently due
to attorneys or representatives in Iran incurred in connection with any of
the transactions authorized by subparagraphs (a) (1), (2), (3) or (4) of
th is paragraph.

-5 (b) Payments effected pursuant to the terms of paragraph (a)(4)
and (5) of th is section may not be made from any blocked account.
(c) As used in th is section the term "Iranian patent, trademark,
or copyright" shall mean any patent, petty patent, design patent, trademark
or copyright issued by Iran.
8.

§535.550 is added as follows:
§535.550 Publications, film s, e tc .

from Ira n .

(a) Specific licenses are issued as appropriate for importations of
publications, film s, posters, phonograph records, photographs, microfilms,
microfiche and tapes originating in Iran. All payments due the suppliers
will be required to be made into accounts in domestic banks subject to the
provisions of §535.201 or §535.206(a)(4). Such an account shall be estab­
lished in the name of the s e l l e r and the licensee shall report such informa­
tion concerning the importation and the account established in the name of
the s e l l e r as the Office of Foreign Assets Control may require as a condi­
tion of the license.
(b) Such importations of publications, film s, e tc . are also
licensed as appropriate when the Office of Foreign Assets Control is s a t i s ­
fied th a t they are bona fide g i f ts to the importer and th at there is not and
has not been any d ire c t or in d ire c t financial or coiranercial benefit to an
Iranian e n tity or any person in Iran from the importations.
9.

§535.562 is amended by the addition of new paragraph (c) as
follows:
§535.562 News m a te ria l.
*

(c)

*

*

*

*

*

Accompanied baggage of j o u r n a lis ts and news correspondents.

All transactions incident to the importation into the United States
of accompanied baggage of a j o u r n a li s t or other person referred to in paragraph
(b) of th is section are authorized provided th a t such baggage does not contain
goods in commercial q u a n titie s.
10.

§535.563 is amended by the addition of new paragraphs (d) and
as follows:

(3)

§535.563 Family remittances to Iran.
*

*

*

*

*

*

(d) Remittances authorized by th is section are limited to $1000
per month to any one payee or to any one household.
(e) Any remittance exceeding the amount specified in paragraph (d)
of th is section would require a sp ecific license.

-6-

11.

§535.575 1s added as follows:
§535.575 Exports of newspapers, magazines, films, e tc . to Ira n .

All transactions not inconsistent with §535.419 and o rdinarily
incident to the export to Iran of newspapers, magazines, jo u rn als, new sletters,
books, films, phonograph records, photographs, microfilms, microfiche, tapes
or sim ilar materials are authorized, except such materials which are principally
devoted to the dissemination of techincal data.
12.

§535.576 is added as follows:
1535.576 Payment of non-dollar l e t t e r s of c re d it to Iran .

Notwithstanding the prohibitions of §535.201 and 535.206(a)(4),
payment of ex isting non-dollar l e t t e r s of c re d it in favor of Iranian e n t i t i e s
or any person in Iran by any foreign branch or subsidiary of a U.S. firm is
authorized, provided th a t the c re d it was opened prior to the respective
e ffe c tiv e date.
13.

§535.577 is added as follows:
§535.577 Household goods and personal e f f e c t s .

All transactions incident to the exportation to Iran of household
goods and personal e ffe c ts of an Iranian individual departing the United States
are authorized, provided th at no goods in commercial quantities may be exported
under th is general license.
14.

§535.578 is added as follows:
§535.578 Passengers' baggage and personal e f f e c t s .

(a) All transactions incident to the importation into the United
States of baggage, household goods and personal e ffe c ts of the following
persons are authorized, provided th a t such importation does not include goods
in commercial q u a n titie s:
(1) United States c itiz e n s and U.S. resident aliens who departed
Iran on or before April 24, 1980;
(2)

Third country nationals; and

(3)

Dual nationals of the United States and Iran.

(b) All transactions incident to the importation into the United
States of baggage, household goods and personal e ffe c ts of an Iranian national
who enters the United States on a visa issued by the Department of State are
authorized, provided th a t such importation does not include goods in commercial
q u a n titie s.

-7 (c)
All transactions incident to the importation into the United
States of baggage and personal e ffe c ts of a crew member of vessels or a i r c r a f t
in the United States on temporary sojourn are authorized, provided th a t such
importation does not include goods in commercial q u antities and any such
a r t i c l e s are intended for export from the United States with the crew member
upon his departure.
15.

§535.603 is added as follows:
8535.603 Report of Proposed Subsidiary Transaction with Ira n .

(a) A U.S. company required by §535.206(b) or §535.207(b) to submit
a report to the Office of Foreign Assets Control regarding a proposed
transaction with Iran by a subsidiary shall submit a l e t t e r containing the
following information.
(1)

Name of the foreign subsidiary involved

(2)

Location

(3)

Description of the merchandise

(4)

Value

(5)

Ultimate Iranian consignee

(6)

Identity of any intermediary firm(s)

(7)

End-use

(8)

Payment terms

(b)

The report shall be addressed as follows
Ms. Susan Swinehart
Chief of Licensing
Office of Foreign Assets Control
Treasury Department
Washington, D.C. 20220
Att:

Section 535.603 Report—
EXPEDITE

(c)
The report must be submitted in s u f f ic ie n t time to reach the
Office of Foreign Assets Control 10 days before any subsidiary enters into
any transaction covered by §535.206 or §535.207.

-8D a te d : A p r i l 3 0 , 1980

(Signed) Stanley L. Sommerfield
Stanley L. Sommerfield
Director

Approved: (.Signed) Richard J . Davis
Richard J . Davis
Assistant Secretary
[Authority: Sec. 201-207, 91 S ta t. 1626, 50 U.S.C.
1701-1706; E.0. 12170, 44 FR 65729, E.O. No.
12205, 45 FR 24099; E.O. No. 12211, 45 FR 26685)
Filed:

April 30, 1980

Publication date: May 2, 1980