If you’re an American who likes Iranian caviar and pistachios, you’re in for a treat.
Once the nuclear deal with Iran is implemented, U.S. sanctions that until now have blocked the export of those Iranian foodstuffs into the United States will be lifted.
But if you’re planning on packing a suitcase and making Iran your next vacation destination — or seeking investment opportunities in the Islamic Republic — keep your excitement in check: Travel will continue to be inhibited by a ban on dealing directly with Iranian airlines or tourism businesses.
Iran and six world powers led by the United States reached an agreement in mid-July to lift some sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on the country’s nuclear program. Though the deal has yet to be formally adopted, it looks increasingly likely.
But Obama administration officials are taking pains to make clear that non-nuclear sanctions on Iran will stay in place once the International Atomic Energy Agency verifies Iranian compliance with the nuclear restrictions, probably in about six months to a year. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which enforces Iran sanctions, says it’s already stepping up enforcement of non-nuclear sanctions — restrictions in place for human rights abuses and for backing terror — which are not tied to the Iran deal.
“We have no illusions that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism and is continuing to engage in these bad activities,” said a Treasury official, who spoke anonymously.
There are several areas where sanctions still remain in force. The U.S. government’s primary sanctions, which have been in place since the 1990s and ban any U.S. residents or businesses from dealing with Iran, will stay, with only a few exceptions.
“General prohibitions include: investment in Iran; importing Iranian-origin goods or services; and exporting goods or services to Iran, including clearing U.S. dollars,” the Treasury Department said in the sanctions outline it provided to JTA.
More than 200 Iranian individuals and groups targeted with “secondary sanctions,” which penalize non-U.S. entities for its dealings with Iran, also will remain in place. Among the groups targeted is the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which controls much of Iran’s economy, including construction, energy and shipbuilding.
Long lists of individuals and groups designated as terrorist by the United States remain sanctioned, as do any parties that deal with them. Other areas where the United States will keep sanctions include parties who deal with transfers of weapons of mass destruction technology to Iran, including missile delivery systems. Using technology to track and oppress one’s citizens, such as software that allowed Iran to spy on activists or to disrupt communication among Iranians, is also still banned.
But the United States will no longer sanction non-U.S. entities that deal with Iran’s financial sector — most importantly, with its central bank. Until now, the U.S. government has thwarted dealings by third parties with Iran by threatening to ban those parties from any dealings with the huge and lucrative U.S. market if they also dealt with Tehran.
Also lifted are U.S. sanctions on insurers who underwrite Iranian businesses, on software developers and on those dealing with car manufacturers. Iranians will be able to download the latest software updates to their devices and expect a return of French Peugeots to their streets.
Some sanctions will remain in the United States but be lifted elsewhere. For example, gas stations in Beijing, Brussels and London may be dispensing petrol that started out as Iranian crude, but no such crude will reach the United States. And Iran’s shipping sector will be free to deliver goods and invite foreign investment.
U.S. companies, while banned from dealing directly with Iran, will be able to license their services to non-U.S. entities. For example, Iranian airlines will be able to purchase airplane parts manufactured under U.S. license. Iran has blamed airline crashes on its inability to get replacement parts for U.S.-made planes in service since before the 1979 revolution. But not all Iranian airlines will see the bans lifted. Mahan Air, which the U.S. government says has secretly ferried Iranian Revolutionary Guard fighters and weapons on its flights, will remain sanctioned.
The few areas where direct trade between Iran and the United States will resume include pistachios and caviar, a nod to Iranian Americans who have imported these luxury goods in the past.