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ITA's prime directive
is to put an end to the US unilateral and extraterritorial trade sanctions
on Iran. ITA is a proud supporter of USA
ENGAGE, a growing coalition of American companies speaking out
for US engagement overseas. ITA believes that US economic sanctions
on Iran isolate American companies, cost the US billions of dollars
in lost revenues and jobs each year, and have caused a diplomatic
rift between the US and its allies. The US sanctions on Iran are an
impediment to the expansion of the world economy and hinder its responsiveness
to market forces. The ineffectiveness of the US sanctions is seen
in Iran's ongoing and prosperous trade relations with other countries
in the world. ITA's advocacy program reaches out to a silent but growing
constituency of Iranian Americans, channels their collective political
strength, and directs a focused campaign with the US Congress and
Administration.
Many Iranians want to speak
out against the US sanctions on Iran, but until now, they have not
had the opportunity to effectively participate in the political process.
ITA ensures that their message, along with that of its membership,
is clearly heard on Capital Hill and around the world.
- ITA politically empowers the over
one-two million Iranian Americans in the US to lobby Congress to
lift the Iranian sanctions by leading an educational letter writing
and civic participation campaign
- ITA unites corporate America, multinational
companies, and the Iranian community in protecting their mutual
interests concerning the US foreign policy on Iran
- ITA coordinates and collaborates its
advocacy efforts with dozens of Iranian professional, academic,
and cultural organizations for maximum impact
- ITA utilizes the print media, Internet,
and other mass communication opportunities to reach our to the Iranian
community
The Strategy
ITA can invite the participation of the
Iranian-American community in our advocacy efforts through several different modes of
communication;
- Direct Mail: ITA
can contact tens of thousands Iranian Americans in the US via our
exclusive and growing database.
- Professional Networking: ITA has received
the endorsement of several Iranian American professional organizations in California, New
York and the Washington D.C. area.
- Personal Contact: Building a personal
relationship is still one of the most effective methods of gaining ITA support. Our staff
makes dozens of personal and professional contacts every day.
- Media Relations: We are continuing an
aggressive media campaign to bring attention to the sanctions issue and the challenges
facing the Iranian American community.
- Town Meeting: ITA is planning
to organize regular "Town Meetings" in Los Angeles and
Washington DC, for identifying the legislative priorities of the
Iranian American community.
- Web Site: The ITA
web site is currently serving 14,000 sessions (not hits) per month
worldwide. Many people from around the world regularly E-mail or
register on line with ITA to keep in touch with our progress. Iranians
are using our on line advocacy resource center and international
companies are benefiting from our on line Trade Board.
- Professional Development: Many ITA patrons
participate in the ITA for professional development objectives based on their areas of
interest in international trade, the energy sector, Iran's business environment, or
expanding their career opportunities.
ITA believes that the US
unilateral and extraterritorial trade sanctions on Iran isolate American
companies, cost the US billions of dollars in lost revenues and jobs
each year, and have caused a diplomatic rift between the US and its
Allies. The US sanctions on Iran are an impediment to the expansion
of the world economy and hinder its responsiveness to market forces.
The ineffectiveness of the US sanctions is seen in Iran's ongoing
and prosperous trade relations with every other country in the world.
- Sanctions
Breakdown
Since November 8, 1979, the US has imposed over 19 different forms
of
executive or legislative sanctions on Iran. Some have expired
or been
modified, but others are still in force. The US unilateral trade
sanctions on Iran take the following forms:
1. On October 29, 1987, President Reagan issued Executive
Order 12613
imposing a new import embargo on Iranian-origin goods and services.
Section 505 of the International Security and Development Cooperation
Act of 1985 ("ISDCA") was utilized as the statutory authority
for the embargo which gave rise to the Iranian Transactions Regulations
(Title 31 Part 560 of the US Code of Federal Regulations).
2. On March 16, 1995, President Clinton issued Executive
Order 12957
prohibiting US involvement with petroleum development in Iran.
3. On May 6, 1995, he signed Executive Order
12959, pursuant to the
International Emergency Economic Powers Act ("IEEPA")
as well as the ISDCA, substantially tightening sanctions against
Iran.
4. On August 19, 1997, the President signed Executive
Order 13059 clarifying Executive Orders 12957 and 12959 and
confirming that virtually all trade and investment activities with
Iran by US persons, wherever located, are prohibited.
-
-
American Iranian Anti-Discrimination
Center (AIADC)
- The sanctions are
administered by the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign
Assets Control ("OFAC").
This fact sheet: An overview of O.F.A.C. Regulations involving
Sanctions against, provides general information about the Iranian
sanctions program under the Iranian Transactions Regulations,
and incorporates sanctions imposed by Executive Orders 12957,
12959, and 13059.
The US extraterritorial trade sanctions on foreign countries dealing
with Iran take the following forms;
1. On August 6, 1996, the House Bill 3107 or the Iran
and Libya Sanctions
Act of 1996 was enacted into law by President Clinton.
A White House Fact Sheet says the Iran
and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 imposes new sanctions on foreign
companies that engage in specified economic transactions with
Iran or Libya. The bill sanctions foreign companies that provide
new investments over $20/$40 million for the development of petroleum
resources in Iran or Libya. Currently under review for reauthorization
in 2001. See Stop
ILSA 2001!
2. On October of 1997, H.R.
2709 was enacted into law in order to impose
sanctions on foreign persons who transfer items contributing to
Iran's
efforts to acquire, develop, or produce ballistic missiles.
3. Effective
April 26th, 1999, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced
its new Iranian
Transactions Regulations.
4. On April
28th, 1999, the US
State Department announced that US food and medical exports to
Iran will be allowed on a per license basis.
5. In
May 2000, OFAC Update the Iran Sanctions based on Secretary Albright
March 17, 2000 announcement
6. In
October 2000, OFAC Publishes a Guidance on Sponsorship of Certain
Iranian Conferences
7. In
April 2001, OFAC Publishes an Update to its List of Approved Government
Procurement Bodies in Iran
- Sanctions
Solution
-
- ITA strongly supports
all alternatives to US unilateral trade sanctions on
any country, such as House Bill 2708 or Senate Bill 1413,
the Sanctions
Reform Bill. This new bill is the only progressive alternative to
sanctions
currently being considered by the US Congress. If you wish
to voice your
support of this bill, please click here.
However, the US sanctions on Iran merit our special attention.
To meet our prime advocacy directive of putting an end to the US
unilateral and extraterritorial trade sanctions on Iran, ITA has
established an advocacy committee to facilitate its lobbying campaign
on Capital Hill. ITA provides the public with a factual assessment
of Iran as a potential global trading partner and politically empowers
the growing Iranian community with the US lawmakers and the world
business community. The ITA's advocacy campaign works to redirect
US foreign policy making efforts towards alternatives to unilateral
sanctions.
ITA's advocacy operations also bring media attention to the fight
against sanctions in national and international journals by authoring
articles on the cost of sanctions. In recent years, much media attention
has been given to the impact of sanctions on the US economy as well
as the US/European relations. Practically every other
major US ally in the world has not only voiced its objections to
the US sanctions on Iran but openly warned the US not to attempt
its application across its own borders.
Your company's membership participation
in the ITA furthers our ability to reach out to over one million
Iranian Americans and politically empower them to Get Involved by
participating in the ITA advocacy campaign and by writing the US
Congress to voice their opinions on the US sanctions on Iran. ITA's
Congressional Directory is a free
resource center for Iranian Americans and their growing political
voice on Capital Hill.
Your membership support in our advocacy
program is a tremendous opportunity to further disband the outdated
US foreign policy tool of unilateral and extraterritorial sanctions
and take one more step towards a truly global market economy. Please
contact the ITA for further information.
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