Provision of Certain Temporary Sanctions Relief, 51390 [2014-20523]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 51390]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20523]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 8855]


Provision of Certain Temporary Sanctions Relief

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Government (USG) 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 USG 
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 USG 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: John Hughes, Office 
of Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation, Department of State, 
Telephone: (202) 647-7489.
    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 Fed. 
Reg. 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 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 
United States Government shall take all appropriate measures within 
their authority to carry out the provisions of this notice.

    Dated: August 22, 2014.
Lisa J. Kubiske,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2014-20523 Filed 8-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-07-P