The U.S. Temporarily Eases Economic Sanctions Against Iran

The Bush administration has temporarily lifted some economic sanctions against Iran to facilitate and expedite aid for the earthquake victims in Bam. This includes the temporary lifting of the ban on sending money to Iran, allowing U.S.-based NGOs to carry out their relief efforts. The announcement, made just before the New Year, represents the latest U.S. efforts to demonstrate humanitarian actions in relation to the Bam earthquake and has led to an improvement in the tone between the two countries. The U.S. Treasury Department issued a 90-day license granting U.S. NGOs full permission to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake-stricken city of Bam. U.S. officials state that the issuance of certain controlled items, such as transportation equipment and satellite phones related to the earthquake, is permitted. The export of such items to Iran without specific U.S. government approval has been banned since the hostage crisis involving American diplomats in 1979. Following the Bam earthquake, there have been at least some direct contacts between senior U.S. and Iranian officials. Iran accepted U.S. aid and, after two decades, allowed U.S. Air Force cargo planes to land on its territory.