[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20552-20553]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08774]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 9095]
Provision of Certain Temporary and Limited Sanctions Relief Under
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 in Order To
Continue Implementing the Joint Plan of Action of November 24, 2013
Between the P5+1 and the Islamic Republic of Iran, as Extended Through
June 30, 2015
AGENCY: Department of State.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: On November 24, 2013, the United States and its partners in
the P5+1--France, the United Kingdom, Russia, China, and Germany--
reached an initial understanding with Iran, outlined in a Joint Plan of
Action (JPOA),that halts progress on its nuclear program and rolls it
back in key respects. In return, the P5+1 committed to provide limited,
temporary, and targeted sanctions relief to Iran.
The JPOA was renewed by mutual consent of the P5+1 and Iran on July
19, 2014, and again on November 24, 2014, extending the temporary
sanctions relief provided under the JPOA to cover the period beginning
on November 24, 2014, and ending June 30, 2015 (the Extended JPOA
Period), in order to continue negotiations aimed at achieving a long-
term comprehensive solution to ensure that Iran's nuclear program will
be exclusively peaceful.
This Notice outlines the U.S. Government (USG) actions taken to
extend certain sanctions relief under the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 as part of this understanding.
DATES: Effective Date: The effective dates of these waiver actions are
as described in the determinations set forth below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: On general issues: Paul Pavwoski,
Office of Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation, Department of
State, Telephone: (202) 647-8836.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. government has executed temporary,
partial waivers of certain sanctions under the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (NDAA), in order to continue
implementing the sanctions relief under the JPOA. All U.S. sanctions
not explicitly waived or suspended pursuant to the JPOA as extended
remain fully in force, including sanctions on transactions with
individuals and entities on the SDN List unless otherwise specified.
Furthermore, U.S. persons and foreign entities owned or controlled
by U.S. persons (``U.S.-owned or -controlled foreign entities'')
continue to be generally prohibited from conducting transactions with
Iran, including any transactions of the types permitted pursuant to the
JPOA as extended, unless licensed to do so by OFAC. The U.S. government
will continue to enforce U.S. sanctions laws and regulations against
those who engage in sanctionable activities that are not covered by the
suspensions and temporary waivers issued pursuant to the JPOA as
extended.
Sanctions suspended under the NDAA are scheduled to resume on July
1, 2015 unless further action is taken by the P5+1 and Iran and
subsequent waivers are issued by the U.S. government. Companies
engaging in activities covered by the temporary sanctions relief
described in this notice should expect sanctions to apply to any
activities that extend beyond the current end date of the Extended JPOA
Period, June 30, 2015. The temporary suspension of sanctions applies
only to activities that begin and end during the period January 20,
2014 to June 30, 2015.
[[Page 20553]]
The Secretary of State took the following actions:
Acting under the authorities vested in me as Secretary of State,
including through the applicable delegations of authority, I hereby
make the following determinations and certifications:
Pursuant to section 1245(d)(5) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, I determine that it is in the
national security interest of the United States to waive the imposition
of sanctions under Section 1245(d)(1) with respect to:
(1) Foreign financial institutions under the primary jurisdiction
of China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the authorities on
Taiwan, and Turkey, subject to the following conditions:
a. This waiver shall apply to a financial transaction only for
trade in goods and services between Iran and the country with primary
jurisdiction over the foreign financial institution involved in the
financial transaction (but shall not apply to any transaction for the
sale, supply, or transfer to Iran of precious metals involving funds
credited to an account described in paragraph (b));
b. any funds owed to Iran as a result of such trade shall be
credited to an account located in the country with primary jurisdiction
over the foreign financial institution involved in the financial
transaction; and
c. with the exception that certain foreign financial institutions
notified directly in writing by the U.S. Government may engage in
financial transactions with the Central Bank of Iran in connection with
the repatriation of revenues and the establishment of a financial
channel, to the extent specifically provided for in the Joint Plan of
Action of November 24, 2013, as extended; and
(2) foreign financial institutions under the primary jurisdiction
of Switzerland that are notified directly in writing by the U.S.
Government, to the extent necessary for such foreign financial
institutions to engage in financial transactions with the Central Bank
of Iran: (i) Within the scope of the waiver of Sections 1245(a)(1) and
1245(c) of the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012
(subtitle D of title XXI of Public Law 112-239, 22 U.S.C. 8801 et seq.)
(IFCA) issued on November 25, 2014 and any extension of that waiver;
and (ii) in connection with the repatriation of revenues and the
establishment of a financial channel as specifically provided for in
the Joint Plan of Action of November 24, 2013, as extended.
(3) Foreign financial institutions under the primary jurisdiction
of Oman that are notified directly in writing by the U.S. Government,
to the extent necessary for such foreign financial institutions to
engage in financial transactions with the Central Bank of Iran in
connection with the repatriation of revenues and the establishment of a
financial channel as specifically provided for in the Joint Plan of
Action of November 24, 2013, as extended; and
(4) Foreign financial institutions under the primary jurisdiction
of South Africa subject to the following conditions:
a. This waiver shall apply to a financial transaction only for
trade in goods and services between Iran and South Africa (but shall
not apply to any transaction for the purchase of crude oil from Iran or
any transaction for the sale, supply, or transfer to Iran of precious
metals involving funds credited to an account described in paragraph
(b));
b. any funds owed to Iran as a result of such trade shall be
credited to an account located in South Africa; and
c. with the exception of certain foreign financial institutions
notified directly in writing by the U.S. government to the extent
necessary for such financial institutions to engage in financial
transactions with the Central Bank of Iran within the scope of the
waiver of Sections 1245(a)(1) and 1245(c) of IFCA issued on November
25, 2014 and any extension of that waiver.
This waiver shall take effect upon their transmittal to Congress.
(Signed John F. Kerry, Secretary of State)
Therefore, these sanctions have been waived as described in the
determinations above. Relevant agencies and instrumentalities of the
United States Government shall take all appropriate measures within
their authority to carry out the provisions of this notice.
Dated: April 6, 2015.
Kurt W. Tong,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-08774 Filed 4-15-15; 8:45 am]
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