OFAC Clarifies that Iranian Americans May Continue Flying on Iran Air

By the Asian Law Caucus

July 1, 2011, San Francisco, CA – On June 23, 2011, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury announced that it has added Iran Air to its “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List” (SDN List).  The inclusion on the SDN list generally means that U.S. individuals – United States citizens and permanent residents and anyone who is “physically” in the United States – may not engage in financial and commercial dealings with Iran Air without first obtaining a specific license from OFAC.  

In the past week, Asian Law Caucus (ALC) has worked closely with the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) and the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) who requested and received responses from OFAC officials indicating that U.S. individuals may continue flying on Iran Air based on an underlying travel exemption.  OFAC officials also confirmed that the recent designation prohibits nearly all other dealings with Iran Air and affiliates are illegal.  Even though these statements may be subject to change and not legally binding, we are encouraged by this clarification and hope to work with OFAC and Iranian American organizations to mitigate the effect of sanctions on Iranian Americans.  

The sanctions against Iran are complex and complicate many business, charitable, and family affairs of Iranian Americans.  You should consult with an attorney or with OFAC if you plan to engage in any transactions involving Iran.  Please follow the links below for more information on U.S. Sanctions against Iran:

• The Impact of U.S. Sanctions Against Iran on You
• Legal Analysis: U.S. Sanctions Relating to Iran Air

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About the Asian Law Caucus (ALC)

The mission of the Asian Law Caucus is to promote, advance, and represent the legal and civil rights of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities. Recognizing that social, economic, political and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, the Asian Law Caucus is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society, with a specific focus directed toward addressing the needs of low-income, immigrant and underserved APIs.  For more information about the ALC, please click here.