80 FR 22762 - Provision of Certain Temporary Sanctions Relief

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 78 (April 23, 2015)

The U.S. government is renewing temporary waivers of certain sanctions to allow for a discrete range of transactions related to the provision of satellite connectivity services to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). The U.S. government is renewing these waivers based on Iran's commitment to ensure that harmful uplink satellite interference does not emanate from its territory, and verification by the U.S. government that harmful uplink satellite interference is not currently emanating from the territory of Iran.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 78 (Thursday, April 23, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22762-22763]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-09511]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9100]


Provision of Certain Temporary Sanctions Relief

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. government is renewing temporary waivers of certain 
sanctions to allow for a discrete range of transactions related to the 
provision of satellite connectivity services to the Islamic Republic of 
Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). The U.S. government is renewing these waivers 
based on Iran's commitment to ensure that harmful uplink satellite 
interference does not emanate from its territory, and verification by 
the U.S. government that harmful uplink satellite interference is not 
currently emanating from the territory of Iran.

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) 647-7489.
    On January 30, the Secretary of State took the following actions:
    Acting under the authorities vested in me as Secretary of State, I 
hereby make the following determinations and certifications:
    Pursuant to Sections 1244(i), 1246(e) and 1247(f) of the Iran 
Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012 (subtitle D of title XII 
of Public Law 112-239, 22 U.S.C. 8801 et seq.) (IFCA) and the 
Delegation of Certain Functions and Authorities under IFCA, 78 FR 35545 
(June 13, 2013), I determine that it is vital to the national security 
of the United States to waive the imposition of sanctions pursuant to:
    1. Section 1244(c)(1) of IFCA \1\ to the extent required for:
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    \1\ Pursuant to section 1244(c)(2)(C)(iii) of IFCA, the relevant 
sanction in Section 1244(c)(1) continues not to apply, by its terms, 
in the case of Iranian financial institutions that have not been 
designated for the imposition of sanctions in connection with Iran's 
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or delivery systems for 
weapons of mass destruction, support for international terrorism, or 
abuses of human rights (as described in section 1244(c)(3)).
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    a. Transactions involving the provision of ground connectivity 
services using earth stations and fiber optic connections outside of 
Iran and the provision and management of satellite capacity for sale or 
resale to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), where such 
ground connectivity services and satellite capacity are to be used for 
the provision to Iran of public international telecommunications 
services, and
    b. transactions involving the provision of the following related 
administrative services to, or for the benefit of, the IRIB, to the 
extent such services are necessary to establish and maintain ground and 
satellite connectivity with IRIB: Standard operational support, 
including coordinating with in-country personnel on matters such as 
configuring ground and earth station equipment to access space segment 
capacity; marketing services; billing services; and legal services, and 
excluding any transactions involving persons other than the IRIB on the 
SDN List.
    2. Section 1246(a) of IFCA \2\ to the extent required for the 
provision of underwriting services or insurance or reinsurance for:
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    \2\ Pursuant to section 1246(a)(1)(C) of IFCA, the relevant 
sanction in Section 1246(a)(1)) continues not to apply, by its 
terms, in the case of Iranian financial institutions that have not 
been designated for the imposition of sanctions in connection with 
Iran's proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or delivery 
systems for weapons of mass destruction, support for international 
terrorism, or abuses of human rights (as described in section 
1246(b)).
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    a. Transactions involving the provision of ground connectivity 
services using earth stations and fiber optic connections outside of 
Iran and the provision and management of satellite capacity for sale or 
resale to the IRIB, where such ground connectivity services and 
satellite capacity are to be used for the provision to Iran of public 
international telecommunications services, and excluding any 
transactions

[[Page 22763]]

involving persons other than the IRIB on the SDN List; and
    b. transactions involving the provision of the following related 
administrative services to, or for the benefit of, Iran, to the extent 
such services are necessary to establish and maintain ground and 
satellite connectivity with IRIB: Standard operational support, 
including coordinating with in-country personnel on matters such as 
configuring ground and earth station equipment to access space segment 
capacity; marketing services; billing services; and legal services, and 
excluding any transactions involving persons other than the IRIB on the 
SDN List.
    3. Section 1247(a) of IFCA \3\ to the extent required for 
transactions by foreign financial institutions on behalf of IRIB 
involving:
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    \3\ Pursuant to section 1247(a) of IFCA, the relevant sanction 
in section 1247(a) still continues not to apply, by its terms, in 
the case of Iranian financial institutions that have not been 
designated for the imposition of sanctions in connection with Iran's 
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or delivery systems for 
weapons of mass destruction, support for international terrorism, or 
abuses of human rights (as described in section 1247(b)).
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    a. The provision of ground connectivity services using earth 
stations and fiber optic connections outside of Iran and the provision 
and management of satellite capacity for sale or resale to the IRIB, 
where such ground connectivity services and satellite capacity are to 
be used for the provision to Iran of public international 
telecommunications services, and for associated services, and
    b. transactions involving the provision of the following related 
administrative services to, or for the benefit of, Iran, to the extent 
such services are necessary to establish and maintain ground and 
satellite connectivity with IRIB: Standard operational support, 
including coordinating with in-country personnel on matters such as 
configuring ground and earth station equipment to access space segment 
capacity; marketing services; billing services; and legal services.
    These waivers shall take effect upon 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 
U.S. government shall take all appropriate measures within their 
authority to carry out the provisions of this notice.

Charles H. Rivkin,
Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2015-09511 Filed 4-22-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-P