Designation of Iran Air on OFAC's SDN List and Restrictions for Iranian Americans

IMPORTANT NOTE The article below is outdated. Please refer to the following article for the latest information: Clarification and Updated Information Regarding Iran Air Designation on the SDN List

What This Means to the Iranian American Community: Purchasing a ticket on Iran Air and with Iran Air Tours and traveling on Iran Air between the US and Iran is not prohibited. Travel on Iran Air or with Iran Air Tours within Iran appears to be within the scope of both travel exemptions, thus not prohibited.

06/25/11Source: Asian Law Caucus

Yesterday, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury announced that it has added Iran Air, the largest Iranian air career, to its "Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List" (SDN List). OFAC stated that its designation of Iran Air was due to Iran Air's provision of material support, including military transport service, to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.



Iran Air

The inclusion of Iran Air on OFAC's SDN list means that U.S. persons - United States citizens and permanent residents (anywhere in the world) and anyone who is "physically" in the United States (regardless of immigration status) - may not engage in financial and commercial dealings with Iran Air without first obtaining a specific license from OFAC.

Among other transactions, OFAC's designation means that you:

May not buy tickets from Iran Air for travel to and from Iran.

May not use Iran Air for domestic travel when you are visiting family and friends in Iran.

May not ask another person to arrange travel through or by Iran Air.

May not use or transfer your frequent flyer miles or other travel awards relating to Iran Air.

May not receive funds (including retirement funds) from Iran Air.

ALC recently released a Know-Your-Rights publication to provide information on the scope of the prohibited and permissible transactions involving Iran and to illustrate the numerous ways these regulations impact Iranian Americans. Copies of the guide are available online at http://www.asianlawcaucus.org/alc/publications/iranian-sanctions/.

This community alert is for education and informational purposes only, and should not be regarded as legal advice. You should consult with an attorney or with OFAC if you plan to engage in any transactions involving Iran.

About The Asian Law Caucus:

The Asian Law Caucus was founded in 1972 as the nation's first legal and civil rights Asian American organization. Recognizing that social, economic, political and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, ALC 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 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Asian Law Caucus is a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice.