Department of State: State Department Sanctions Information and Guidance, 67726-67731 [2012-27642]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67726-67731]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27642]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8086]


Department of State: State Department Sanctions Information and 
Guidance

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Policy guidance.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State is publishing information and guidance 
for the public addressing the State Department's sanctions authorities, 
including under the Iran Sanctions Act, as amended, certain Executive 
Orders related to Iran sanctions, section 106 of the Comprehensive Iran 
Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA) and 
certain related provisions of law, and certain statutes and Executive 
Orders related to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

DATES: The Department of State will accept comments on the Guidance on 
Iran Sanctions and the Guidance on Sensitive Technology until January 
12, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may submit comments within 60 days of the 
date of the publication by any email at sanctions@state.gov with the 
subject line, ``Sanctions Guidance''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of State has legal authority 
to make determinations regarding sanctions on individuals and entities 
that meet certain criteria in three areas that are important to the 
national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States: 
certain activities related to Iran; certain activities related to 
weapons proliferation; and certain activities related to global 
terrorism. This notice includes policy guidance outlining the State 
Department's authorities under the Iran Sanctions Act, as amended, and 
related Executive Orders (EOs); provides guidelines to further describe 
the technologies that may be considered ``sensitive technology'' for 
purposes of section 106 of CISADA, as required under section 412 of the 
Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, and other 
related provisions of law; and provides information on the State 
Department's authorities under certain other EOs and statutory 
provisions related to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.

I. Guidance on Iran Sanctions

    Iran Sanctions Act. Section 5(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 
(ISA) (Pub. L. 104-172) (50 U.S.C. 1701 note), as amended, including by 
the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 
2010 (CISADA) (Pub. L. 111-195) (22 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.), and most 
recently by the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 
2012 (TRA) (Pub. L. 112-158), requires that the President impose or 
waive sanctions on persons, and certain affiliated persons, that are 
determined to have knowingly engaged in specified activities. The 
President has delegated the responsibility to make these determinations 
to the Secretary of State. As such, the Secretary of State is required 
to impose or waive sanctions on persons, including certain affiliated 
persons, that the Secretary of State determines have: (1) Made certain 
investments in Iran's energy sector; (2) provided to Iran certain 
goods, services, or technology for Iran's refined petroleum sector; (3) 
provided certain refined petroleum products to Iran or provided goods, 
services, technology, information, or support for refined petroleum 
imports into Iran; (4) entered into certain types of joint ventures 
involving the development of petroleum resources outside of Iran; (5) 
contributed to the maintenance or enhancement of Iran's development of 
petroleum resources and refined petroleum products; (6) contributed to 
the maintenance or expansion of Iran's production of petrochemical 
products; (7) been connected in certain ways with a vessel used to 
transport crude oil from Iran (with certain exceptions made for 
transactions related to the transportation of crude oil from Iran to 
countries that the Secretary of State has determined qualified for an 
exception to sanctions under section 1245(d)(4)(D) of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, Public Law 112-81, as 
amended); or (8) been connected in certain ways with a vessel that 
conceals the Iranian origin of the crude oil or refined petroleum 
products.
    There is an exception, outlined in section 5(a)(9) of ISA, as 
amended, to sanctions applicable to categories (7) and (8) above for 
persons that provide underwriting services or insurance or reinsurance 
if the Secretary of State determines that the person has exercised due 
diligence in establishing and enforcing official policies, procedures, 
and controls to ensure that the person does not provide underwriting 
services or insurance or reinsurance for the transportation of crude 
oil or refined petroleum products from Iran in a manner for which 
sanctions may be imposed under either of those sections. In addition to 
this exception, all persons involved in activities in high-risk sectors 
should consider implementing enhanced due diligence in order to 
minimize the risks of inadvertently becoming engaged in a sanctionable 
transaction. This could include, but is not limited to, confirming that 
transactions in these sectors do not involve an entity owned or 
controlled by Iran or that Iran is not otherwise connected to any 
entities in the commercial transactions, including by reviewing the 
Office of Foreign Assets Control's Specially Designated Nationals and 
Blocked Persons (SDN) List; searching commercial databases and 
verifying ownership structures of unknown companies; and, in the case 
of transportation or insurance of crude oil and petroleum products, 
verifying that Iran is not the origin of the cargo. Persons with 
questions on sections 5(a)(7)-(9) of ISA, as amended, should contact 
the State Department's Office of Sanctions Policy and Implementation in 
the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at sanctions@state.gov">eb-iransanctions@state.gov or at: (202) 647-7489.
    Section 5(b) of ISA, as amended, requires the Secretary of State to 
impose or waive sanctions on persons, and certain affiliated persons, 
that are determined to have: (1) Exported or transferred goods, 
services, technology, or other items that would contribute

[[Page 67727]]

materially to Iran's ability to acquire or develop chemical, 
biological, or nuclear weapons, or destabilizing numbers and types of 
advanced conventional weapons, or facilitated such activities; or (2) 
entered into a joint venture involving Iran and activity relating to 
the mining, production, or transportation of uranium.
    In addition to expanding the types of sanctionable activities under 
ISA, the TRA added new sanctions that can be imposed under ISA. For 
activities commenced on or after August 10, 2012, section 6 of ISA, as 
amended, now permits the Secretary to choose from a list of 12 possible 
sanctions; section 5(a) requires selection of at least five of these 
sanctions. In addition, new section 5(a)(8)(B) of ISA, as amended, 
which relates to concealing the Iranian origin of crude oil and refined 
petroleum products, authorizes an additional sanction: prohibiting a 
vessel owned, operated, or controlled by a person, including a 
controlling beneficial owner, with respect to which the Secretary of 
State has imposed sanctions, from landing at a port in the United 
States for a period of not more than two years after the date on which 
the Secretary of State imposes the sanction. If this sanction is chosen 
by the Secretary of State, the Department of State would provide the 
relevant information on sanctioned persons and vessels to the United 
States Coast Guard's Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance and the 
Captains of the Ports would inform the vessel that it is prohibited 
from entering the United States for the prescribed period consistent 
with the Secretary of State's decision under ISA, as amended.
    The other new sanctions, which are applicable to all sanctionable 
activities outlined in ISA, as amended, and occurring on or after 
August 10, 2012, are: (1) Prohibiting any U.S. person from investing in 
or purchasing significant amounts of equity or debt instruments of a 
sanctioned person; (2) denying a visa to and excluding from the United 
States any alien determined to be a corporate officer or principal of, 
or a shareholder with a controlling interest in, a sanctioned person; 
and (3) imposing on the principal executive officer or officers of any 
sanctioned person, or on persons performing similar functions and with 
similar authorities as such officer or officers, any of the sanctions 
outlined in section 6(a) of ISA, as amended.
    Potential ISA sanctions that were already in place before the 
enactment of TRA include: (1) Denying Export-Import Bank financing 
assistance in connection with the export of goods or services to the 
sanctioned person; (2) denying issuance of export licensing or other 
authority to export any goods or technology to the sanctioned person; 
(3) prohibiting U.S. financial institutions from making certain loans 
or providing certain credits to the sanctioned person; (4) prohibiting 
a sanctioned financial institution from acting as a primary dealer in 
U.S. government debt instruments or serving as a repository of U.S. 
government funds; (5) prohibiting U.S. government agencies from 
procuring or entering into contracts for the procurement of any goods 
or services from a sanctioned person; (6) prohibiting any transactions 
in foreign exchange that are subject to the jurisdiction of the United 
States and in which the sanctioned person has any interest; (7) 
prohibiting transfers of credit or payments between financial 
institutions or by, through, or to any financial institution if the 
transactions are within the jurisdiction of the United States and 
involve any interest of the sanctioned person; (8) blocking all 
property and interests in the property of the sanctioned person that 
are within the jurisdiction of the United States, and providing that 
such property and interests in property may not be transferred, paid, 
or otherwise dealt in; and (9) restricting or prohibiting imports of 
goods, technology, or services into the United States from the 
sanctioned person. In addition, section 5(b)(3) of ISA, as amended, 
provides for additional sanctions relating to the transfer of nuclear 
technology.
    The President initially delegated the authorities associated with 
these sanctions to the Secretary of State, in consultation with various 
other agencies, in 1996 (see 61 FR 64249 (Dec. 4, 1996)). Another 
delegation was issued in 2010 when CISADA was enacted (see 75 FR 67025 
(Nov. 1, 2010)), and Executive Order 13574 followed on May 23, 2011 
(see 76 FR 30505 (May 25, 2011)). The most recent Presidential 
delegation memorandum was issued on October 9, 2012, to address the 
changes to ISA made by TRA (see 77 FR 62139 (Oct. 12, 2012)), along 
with Executive Order 13628, issued on October 9, 2012 (see 77 FR 62139 
(Oct. 12, 2012)). This most recent Presidential delegation memorandum 
also delegated to the Secretary of State the President's authority 
under section 212 of TRA, which draws on ISA authorities, to sanction 
persons that knowingly provide underwriting services or insurance or 
reinsurance for the National Iranian Oil Company, the National Iranian 
Tanker Company, or a successor entity to either company. There is 
authority to not impose sanctions under this provision with respect to 
persons exercising due diligence in establishing and enforcing official 
policies, procedures, and controls to ensure that such insurance is not 
provided. There is also authority, under section 312(d) of the TRA, to 
not impose sanctions with respect to transactions that are solely for 
the purchase of petroleum or petroleum products and for which sanctions 
may be imposed solely as a result of the involvement of NIOC or NITC in 
the transactions, where the country receiving the petroleum or 
petroleum products has been determined by the Secretary of State to 
qualify for an exception to sanctions under section 1245(d)(4)(D) of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Pub. L. 
112-81), as amended.
    For purposes of ISA, ``person'' means a natural person as well as a 
corporation, business association, partnership, society, trust, 
financial institution, insurer, underwriter, guarantor, and any other 
business organization, any other nongovernmental entity, organization, 
or group, and any governmental entity operating as a business 
enterprise, as well any successors to any such entities.
    Section 4 of ISA provides for a waiver of the application of 
sanctions provisions under certain circumstances. Section 4 also 
provides for the initiation of investigations and contains a ``Special 
Rule'' outlining the circumstances under which an investigation may be 
terminated or not initiated. In deciding whether to invoke the Special 
Rule or take another step to mitigate sanctions such as a waiver under 
this section, the State Department typically requires a letter 
providing certain assurances and supporting documentation. More 
information regarding what is specifically required is provided to 
companies that seek to be considered for application of the Special 
Rule. Section 7 of ISA provides authority for the Secretary of State to 
issue advisory opinions, when specifically requested, with respect to 
whether a proposed activity would subject a person to sanctions under 
ISA. Section 9 of ISA, as amended, provides for delay of imposition of 
sanctions or waiver in certain circumstances, and provides that a 
sanction imposed under section 5 of ISA, as amended, shall remain in 
effect for not less than two years or, if the Secretary of State 
determines and certifies to the Congress that the sanctioned person is 
no longer engaging in sanctionable activities and that the Secretary of 
State has received reliable assurances that such person will

[[Page 67728]]

not knowingly engage in such activities in the future, for not less 
than one year. Questions about implementation of ISA, as amended, can 
be directed to the State Department's Office of Sanctions Policy and 
Implementation in the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs at sanctions@state.gov">eb-iransanctions@state.gov or at (202) 647-7489. A list of entities 
sanctioned pursuant to section 5 of ISA, as amended, can be found at 
www.state.gov/iransanctions.
    Executive Order 13590 (issued on November 20, 2011). EO 13590 
provides for sanctions by the Secretary of State on persons knowingly 
engaging in activities that could directly and significantly contribute 
to the maintenance or enhancement of Iran's ability to develop 
petroleum resources located in Iran, or the maintenance or expansion of 
Iran's domestic production of petrochemical products, and on certain 
affiliated persons. Entities involved in transactions in these sectors 
are expected to conduct adequate due diligence to confirm that 
transactions do not involve an entity owned or controlled by Iran or 
that Iran is not otherwise connected to any entities in the commercial 
transactions.
    For purposes of the Executive Orders addressed in this guidance the 
term ``person'' means an individual or entity. For purposes of 
Executive Orders and statutes addressed in this guidance, the following 
definitions apply:
     ``Petroleum'' (also known as crude oil) means a mixture of 
hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in natural underground 
reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing 
through surface separating facilities;
     ``Petroleum products'' includes unfinished oils, liquefied 
petroleum gases, pentanes plus, aviation gasoline, motor gasoline, 
naptha-type jet fuel, kerosene-type jet fuel, kerosene, distillate fuel 
oil, residual fuel oil, petrochemical feedstocks, special naphthas, 
lubricants, waxes, petroleum coke, asphalt, road oil, still gas, and 
miscellaneous products obtained from the processing of: crude oil 
(including lease condensate), natural gas, and other hydrocarbon 
compounds. The term does not include natural gas, liquefied natural 
gas, biofuels, methanol, and other non-petroleum fuels. Since enactment 
of section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
Year 2012 (Pub. L. 112-81), questions have been raised about some other 
specific products and whether they would fall under this definition. 
The following additional products are considered petroleum products for 
the purposes of this guidance: condensates (occurring naturally or 
derived from the processing of petroleum or natural gas), and liquefied 
petroleum gases (LPGs) including propane and butane. This list, 
however, is not exhaustive and other products not on this list that 
fall under the definition above remain potentially sanctionable.
     ``Petrochemical products'' includes any aromatic, olefin, 
and synthesis gas, and any of their derivatives, including ethylene, 
propylene, butadiene, benzene, toluene, xylene, ammonia, methanol, and 
urea. Since the issuance of E.O. 13590, questions have been raised 
about some other specific products and whether they would fall under 
this definition. The following additional products are considered 
petrochemical products for the purposes of this guidance: butene, 
ethylhexanol, acetic acid, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, alachlor, 
ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, anhydrous ammonia, argon, 
butachlor, C2+, C3+, C4 cut, chlorinated paraffin, chlorine, 
chloracetyl chloride, citric acid, diammonium phosphate, 
diethanolamine, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, dioctyl phthalate, 
dodecycle benzene, ethane, ethoxylates, ethylbenzene, ethylene 
dichloride, ethylene glycol, ethylene oxide, heavy alkyl benzene, high 
density polyethylene, hydrochloric acid, isoprene, linear alkyl 
benzene, linear low density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, 
melamine, methyl tertiary butyl ether, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, 
mid density polyethylene, monoethanolamine, monoethylene glycol, nitric 
acid, nitrogen, orthoxylene, paraxylene, pentene, perchlorine, 
phosphoric acid, phthalic anhydride, polybutadiene, polyethylene 
terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, 
propylene, purified terephthalic acid, pyrolysis gasoline, raffinate, 
soda ash, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium chloride, sodium 
hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite, styrene, tyrene acrylonite copolymer, 
sulfur, sulfuric acid, styrene butadiene, toluene diisocyanate, 
triethanolamine, triethylene glycol, and vinyl chloride monomer. This 
list, however, is not exhaustive and other products not on this list 
that fall under the definition above remain potentially sanctionable. 
``Petrochemical products'' do not include finished products derived 
from these substances, such as pipes, plastic bags, tires, and 
solvents. For purposes of this and other E.O.'s and legislation 
outlined in this guidance, an item cannot be both a petroleum product 
and a petrochemical product.
    Executive Order 13622 (issued on July 30, 2012). Section 2 of E.O. 
13622 provides for sanctions by the Secretary of State on a person 
determined to knowingly, on or after July 31, engage in a significant 
transaction for the purchase or acquisition of petroleum or petroleum 
products from Iran or for the purchase or acquisition of petrochemical 
products from Iran, and on certain affiliated persons. Entities 
involved in transactions in these sectors are expected to conduct 
adequate due diligence to confirm that Iran is not the country of 
origin of the petroleum, petroleum products, or petrochemicals. Certain 
exceptions are made for transactions for the purchase of petroleum or 
petroleum products where the Secretary of State has granted exceptions 
to sanctions under section 1245(d)(4)(D) of the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Pub. L. 112-81), as amended.
    Executive Order 13628 (issued on October 9, 2012). Sections 5, 6, 
and 7 of E.O. 13628 authorize the Secretary of State to impose certain 
sanctions in sections 5(a) and 6 of ISA that were enacted by CISADA for 
activity occurring between July 1, 2010 and August 10, 2012. Section 
201 of TRA amended the effective date of the relevant sanctions to 
August 10, 2012, and did not otherwise preserve their applicability for 
activity occurring between the enactment dates of CISADA (July 1, 2010) 
and TRA (August 10, 2012).
    Questions about the State Department's implementation of these 
Executive Orders can be directed to the State Department's Office of 
Sanctions Policy and Implementation in the Bureau of Economic and 
Business Affairs at sanctions@state.gov">eb-iransanctions@state.gov or at (202) 647-7489.

II. Guidance on the Provision of ``Sensitive Technology'' to Iran and 
Syria

    Section 106 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, 
and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA) (Pub. L. 111-195) (22 U.S.C. 8501 
et seq.) prohibits U.S. government agencies from entering into or 
renewing procurement contracts with individuals or entities that export 
``sensitive technology'' to Iran. Further, sections 402 and 703 of the 
Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (TRA) (Pub. L. 
112-158) mandate the imposition of sanctions on persons who are 
determined to have engaged in certain activities, including, on or 
after August 10, 2012, to knowingly transfer, or facilitate the 
transfer of ``sensitive technology'' to

[[Page 67729]]

Iran or Syria, or provide services with respect to ``sensitive 
technology'' after such technology is transferred to Iran or Syria.
    Section 106 of CISADA defines ``sensitive technology'' as 
``hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, or any other 
technology, that the President determines is to be used specifically--
(A) to restrict the free flow of unbiased information in Iran; or (B) 
to disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict speech of the people of 
Iran.'' Section 703 of TRA defines ``sensitive technology'' in the same 
way with respect to Syria.
    These guidelines, which are required under section 412 of TRA, are 
intended to assist individuals and entities so that, going forward, 
they can make appropriate decisions with regard to business in Iran and 
Syria and take steps to avoid engaging in potentially sanctionable 
transactions under sections 106 and 105A of CISADA, as amended by 
section 402 of TRA, Executive Order 13628, and section 703 of TRA due 
to the similarity of the definition of ``sensitive technology'' to 
section 106 of CISADA.

Misuse of Technology in Iran and Syria

    Information and communications technology serves to facilitate 
communication, share information, and connect users to each other. Over 
the last several years, the world has witnessed the important role this 
technology can assume in holding repressive regimes accountable, 
assisting people in exercising their human rights and protecting 
emerging elements of civil society. However, certain information and 
communications technology can also provide unprecedented capabilities 
for governments to conduct surveillance on users' communications and 
movements, and to block or disrupt communications.
    The people of Iran and Syria use telecommunications technology and 
networks to communicate with each other and the rest of the world. The 
United States government supports efforts to facilitate the free flow 
of information and freedom of expression in Iran and Syria and is 
cognizant of the vital importance of providing technology that enables 
the Iranian and Syrian people to freely communicate with each other and 
the outside world.
    At the same time, the Iranian and Syrian governments have taken 
steps to restrict the free flow of information and freedom of 
expression over their networks, to track and monitor the communications 
of their people for the purpose of perpetrating human rights abuses, or 
to disrupt networks in support of military operations against their own 
people.

Determining ``Sensitive Technology''

    In determining whether a particular transaction involves a good or 
technology that may be considered ``sensitive technology'' under CISADA 
and TRA, the United States government will closely examine transactions 
that could provide significant surveillance, censorship, or network 
disruption capabilities to the Iranian or Syrian governments as a 
result of the particular end-user, its end-use, or the type of 
technology.
    The United States government recognizes that certain geolocation 
and other monitoring capabilities are part of the basic functioning of 
modern telecommunications networks. The United States government 
further recognizes that online communications services commonly track 
users' network addresses and usage patterns and may request additional 
personal information from users. These capabilities generally would not 
be considered ``sensitive technology'' under CISADA and TRA. Moreover, 
``sensitive technology'' does not generally include technology 
essential for ordinary network operation, personal computing or private 
communications that does not provide significant surveillance, 
censorship or network disruption capabilities, including: Wi-Fi access 
points, network routers, switches and mobile phone base stations; 
cables (fiber optic, coaxial and twisted pair); basic network 
performance monitoring tools; wireless antennas and other architectural 
elements; mobile phones and mass market desktop, laptop and tablet 
computers without external monitoring or surveillance capabilities such 
as keyloggers; computer monitors, screens, speakers, mice, headphones, 
headsets, and other accessories; defensive technologies to protect 
individual computers against malware and related security threats 
(including software and definition updates); software development tools 
including libraries, integrated development environments, hosting 
services, and collaboration platforms; mass market document creation, 
viewing and editing tools without special surveillance capabilities; 
censorship-circumvention technologies and services; virtual private 
network (VPN) services; anti-tracking and encryption technologies to 
protect user privacy, if supplied without monitoring or surveillance 
capabilities; personal communications technologies (including software 
updates to such technologies) such as instant messaging, chat, email, 
social networking, photo and movie sharing, web browsing, and blogging; 
web browser plug-ins for rendering web content; data and web hosting 
and storage technology without monitoring or surveillance capabilities; 
RSS feed production, distribution, and reading tools and comparable 
information transmission technologies; and other similar equipment that 
does not provide significant surveillance, censorship or network 
disruption capabilities.
    When making an assessment of whether or not a company, entity, or 
individual is exporting, transferring, facilitating the transfer of, or 
providing services that may be considered sensitive technology with 
regard to Iran or Syria, the State Department will review all available 
information, including through direct communication with the entity or 
individual if possible. It will consider, among other factors, whether 
a company knew, or should have known, that a particular end-user of its 
technology was likely to misuse such technology, or that a particular 
technology has a history of being misused in Iran or Syria to further 
human rights abuses. As such, individuals or entities engaged in 
transactions with Iran or Syria involving telecommunications goods, 
services or technology should conduct rigorous due diligence to ``know 
their customer'' and assess the potential risk that a particular 
technology is likely to be used to facilitate human rights abuses, 
restrict the free flow of information, or disrupt, monitor, or 
otherwise restrict speech of the people of Iran and Syria.
    For example, individuals or entities sanctioned by the U.S. 
government for activities related to human rights abuses in Iran and 
Syria may pose a more apparent risk of misusing technology. Under these 
circumstances, any hardware, software, or telecommunications equipment 
provided to persons sanctioned for human rights abuses pose the 
potential to be considered ``sensitive technology'' for the purposes of 
CISADA and TRA, and any type of support provided to these individuals 
or entities may subject the provider to sanctions.
    Regardless of the recipient or known end-use, specific 
telecommunications technologies such as ``lawful interception'' and 
``surreptitious listening'' devices, systems and technology for the 
interception of wire, oral or electronic communications or to jam or 
intercept the air interface of mobile telecommunications, have the 
potential to be considered ``sensitive technology'' for the purposes of 
CISADA and TRA under some, but not all,

[[Page 67730]]

circumstances. Similarly, keyword list blocking technology that allows 
persons to block the transmission of content containing certain words, 
has the potential to be considered ``sensitive technology'' for the 
purposes of CISADA and TRA under some, but not all, circumstances. The 
following is an illustrative, but not exclusive, list of other 
technologies and capabilities that pose the risk of being misused by 
the Iranian and Syrian governments, and that have the potential to be 
considered ``sensitive technology'':

 Key logging technology/spyware
    [cir] Allows persons to record key strokes, mouse clicks, data 
processes, or activity on a touchscreen without consent of the device 
user
 Mobile device forensics data extraction and analysis 
technology
    [cir] Allows persons to extract and analyze data from a mobile 
phone device, even if password protected
 Nonconsensual remote forensic technology
    [cir] Allows persons to perform undetected collection and analysis 
of data from remote target computers
 Nonconsensual tracking/monitoring technology
    [cir] Allows persons to cause a mobile or networked device to 
reveal its geographic location, operating status or application data, 
without consent of the device owner or content provider
 Network disruption technology
    [cir] Designed to enable disruption, inhibition or degradation of 
networks or sub-parts
 Infection vectors technology
    [cir] Allows persons to install or execute malware or perform other 
attacks
 Rootkit technology
    [cir] Allows persons to defeat or bypass security, hide malware, or 
enable privileged access to computer process or network resources
 DNS poisoning technology
    [cir] Allows persons to hijack Domain Name System (DNS) requests 
and reroute Internet traffic to illegitimate Web sites/servers
 Censorship-enhancement technology
    [cir] Designed to allow persons to enforce content blocking or to 
fingerprint and/or defeat anti-censorship technologies

    This guidance was developed for its applicability to current 
conditions in Iran, as called for by section 412 of TRA and by section 
106 of CISADA, and in Syria, due to the similarity of section 703 of 
TRA to section 106 of CISADA, and should not be considered 
automatically relevant for other contexts or conditions. The State 
Department will periodically review these guidelines and, if necessary, 
amend them to take into account new information and circumstances 
regarding the use of technology in Iran and Syria. U.S. entities and 
individuals are generally prohibited from engaging in any transaction 
involving Iran and Syria unless such transactions are authorized by the 
Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Foreign 
entities and individuals may also be subject to license requirements if 
their transactions involving Iran or Syria also involve the United 
States, such as a funds transfer that transits a U.S. bank. For 
transactions involving exports to Iran or Syria, U.S. companies should 
also consult with the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and 
Security regarding relevant licensing requirements.
    Persons with questions on sensitive technology, section 106 of 
CISADA, or TRA should contact the State Department's Office of 
Sanctions Policy and Implementation in the Bureau of Economic and 
Business Affairs at (202) 647-7489 or emailing CISADA106@state.gov.
Information on Terrorism Designations
    Executive Order 13224 (issued on September 23, 2001), as amended by 
Executive Orders 13268, 13284, and 13372, provides the Secretary of 
State with the authority, in consultation with the Secretary of the 
Treasury, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Attorney General, 
to designate foreign persons that the Secretary of State determines 
have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of 
terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national 
security, foreign policy or economy of the United States. Among other 
things, this designation blocks, with limited exceptions, all of the 
designated persons' property and interests in property that are in the 
United States or come within the United States or that come within the 
possession or control of U.S. persons. The Secretary of the Treasury 
also may, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, and the Attorney General, designate individuals and 
entities that are owned or controlled by the designated persons; act 
for or on behalf of the designated persons; assist in, sponsor, or 
provide financial, material, or technological support for, or financial 
or other services to, or in support of, the designated persons; or are 
otherwise associated with the designated persons. Section 211 of TRA 
also provides for certain sanctions to be imposed under E.O. 13224 in 
connection with provision of vessels, insurance, or any other shipping 
service for the transportation of goods to or from Iran that could 
materially contribute to the activities of the Government of Iran with 
respect to support for acts of international terrorism. The list of 
individuals and entities designated by the Secretary of State pursuant 
to E.O. 13224 is available at https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/143210.htm.
    The Secretary of State also has authority, pursuant to section 219 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (INA) (8 U.S.C. 
1189), to designate an organization as a foreign terrorist organization 
(FTO) if the Secretary of State finds that the organization is a 
foreign organization; engages in terrorist activity or terrorism, as 
defined by the relevant statute, or retains the capability and intent 
to engage in terrorist activity or terrorism; and the terrorist 
activity or terrorism of the organization threatens the security of 
United States nationals or the national security of the United States. 
Additional information on the designations process and the consequences 
of designation, along with a list of organizations designated by the 
Secretary of State pursuant to section 219 of the INA, is available at 
https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/other/des/123085.htm.
Information on Weapons of Mass Destruction Designations
    In Executive Order 12938 (November 14, 1994), President Clinton 
declared a national emergency with respect to the proliferation of 
nuclear, biological and chemical weapons (weapons of mass destruction 
or WMD) and the means of delivering them. EO 12938, as amended by EO 
13094 and EO 13382, provides that the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
prohibit the importation into the United States of goods, technology, 
or services produced or provided by any foreign person the Secretary of 
State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, determines 
has engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or transactions that 
have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of materially 
contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or 
their means of delivery (including missiles capable of delivering such 
weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, acquire, possess, 
develop, transport, transfer, or use such items, by an person or 
foreign country of proliferation concern. E.O. 12938, as

[[Page 67731]]

amended, also imposes the following measures against such foreign 
persons: no departments or agencies of the United States government 
shall procure or enter into any contract for the procurement of any 
goods, technology, or services from these persons including the 
termination of existing contracts; and no departments or agencies of 
the United States government shall provide any assistance to these 
persons, and shall not obligate further funds for such purposes.
    The complete list of foreign persons on which the Secretary of 
State has determined to impose an import ban because of their WMD 
proliferation activities can be found at https://www.state.gov/t/isn/c15233.htm.
    Executive Order 13382 (issued on June 28, 2005) provides the 
Secretary of State with the authority, in consultation with the 
Secretary of the Treasury, the Attorney General, and other relevant 
agencies, to designate foreign persons that the Secretary of State 
determines to have engaged, or attempted to engage, in activities or 
transactions that have materially contributed to, or pose a risk of 
materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass 
destruction or their means of delivery (including missiles capable of 
delivering such weapons), including any efforts to manufacture, 
acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer or use such items, by 
any person or foreign country of proliferation concern. Among other 
things, this designation blocks, with limited exceptions, all of the 
designated persons' property and interests in property that are in the 
United States or come within the United States or that come within the 
possession or control of U.S. persons. The Secretary of the Treasury 
also may, in consultation with the Secretary of State, the Attorney 
General, and other relevant agencies, designate individuals and 
entities that: (1) Are owned or controlled by a person blocked pursuant 
to the order, including a person designated by the Secretary of State; 
(2) act or purport to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, 
a person blocked pursuant to the order, including a person designated 
by the Secretary of State; or (3) have provided, or attempted to 
provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or 
goods or services in support of, a person blocked pursuant to the 
order, including a person designated by the Secretary of State. Section 
211 of TRA also provides for certain sanctions to be imposed pursuant 
to E.O. 13382 in connection with the knowing sale, lease, or provision 
of vessels, insurance, or any other shipping service for the 
transportation to or from Iran of goods that could materially 
contribute to the activities of the Government of Iran with respect to 
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The list of 
individuals and entities designated by the Secretary of State pursuant 
to E.O. 13382 is available at https://www.state.gov/t/isn/c22080.htm.
    The Arms Export Control Act and the Export Administration Act 
require the imposition of sanctions against any foreign person that 
knowingly transfers items on the Missile Technology Control Regime 
(MTCR) Annex that contribute to MTCR-class missile programs in non-MTCR 
adherent countries. Sanctions consist of a ban on export licenses and 
U.S. government procurement, and they may also include an import ban. 
The sanctions may be waived if it is essential to the national security 
interest of the United States, and the sanctions need not be imposed if 
the transfer was authorized by the laws of an MTCR adherent or if an 
MTCR adherent has taken adequate enforcement action. These laws also 
require imposition of sanctions against any foreign person that 
knowingly and materially contributes to the efforts of another foreign 
country, project, or entity to use, develop, produce, stockpile, or 
otherwise acquire chemical and biological weapons. Sanctions consist of 
a ban on U.S. government procurement and imports. The sanctions may be 
waived after 12 months if it is important to the national security 
interests of the United States, and sanctions need not be applied if 
the government with primary jurisdiction over the offender has taken 
effective steps to terminate the sanctions-triggering activities.
    Under the Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act, sanctions are 
required against entities that transfer goods or technology so as to 
contribute knowingly and materially to the efforts by Iran and Iraq to 
acquire chemical, biological or nuclear weapons or destabilizing 
numbers and types of advance conventional weapons, as defined in the 
statute. Sanctions include a procurement ban, export prohibition on 
items contained on the United States Munitions List, and the authority 
to impose sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 
Powers Act. A waiver is available if it is essential to the national 
security of the United States.
    The Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act requires the 
Secretary of State to report to Congress, and further gives the 
Secretary the authority to sanction, a foreign entity if there is 
credible information indicating that that the entity transferred to or 
acquired from Iran, North Korea, or Syria items listed on certain 
multilateral export control regimes or if the entity transferred to or 
acquired from those countries goods, services or technology not listed 
in the multilateral export regimes but which nevertheless would be if 
they were U.S. goods, services or technology prohibited for export to 
those countries because of their potential to make a material 
contribution to the development of nuclear, biological, or chemical 
weapons, or of ballistic or cruise missile systems. Sanctions include 
those provided for under EO 12938 as well as an arms export prohibition 
and a dual use export prohibition.
    The Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Act of 1994 requires a cutoff 
of government contracts with any U.S. or foreign person that 
contributes knowingly and materially, through the export of nuclear-
related goods or technology, to the efforts of any individual, group, 
or nonnuclear weapon state to acquire a nuclear explosive device or 
unsafeguarded special nuclear material. The sanction may be waived 
after 12 months if continued imposition would have a serious adverse 
effect on vital U.S. interests, and sanctions need not be applied if 
the government with primary jurisdiction over the offender has taken 
effective steps to terminate the sanctions-triggering activities.

William J. Burns,
Deputy Secretary of State, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2012-27642 Filed 11-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-31-P