The expected implementation of the Iran nuclear may see American foodies being able to enjoy Iranian caviar as sanctions that have blocked the import of Iranian goods are lifted, but according to experts, investment opportunities with the middle eastern country will remain mostly off limits.
Many people have been under the impression the deal reached between Iran and the U.S and six of its world power colleagues, would see the lifting of all sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program, including regular inspections, but that is not the case and the Obama administration wants to make that clear.
White House officials have started to make real efforts to explain that non-nuclear related sanctions will stay in place, even if the International Atomic Energy Agency confirms Iran is complying to nuclear restrictions. White House watchers say the sanction explanations are in response to concerns many Americans have about the deal, and also as a way of letting Iran know that no bad behavior will be tolerated.
A U.S. Treasury official said the Office of Foreign Assets Control, which is the main Iran sanctions watchdog, says it has already begun to step up enforcement of non-nuclear sanctions imposed for Iran’s support of terror groups and human rights abuses.
“We have no illusions that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism and is continuing to engage in these bad activities,” said the official.
Government imposed sanctions that were implemented in the 1990’s that ban U.S resident or businesses having commercial deals with Iran will largely stay in place, However the official said U.S. companies, although banned from directly dealing with Iran, can license their services to non-U.S. entities, who have dealings with Iran. He cited the case of US airplane parts manufactured elsewhere under license being able to be purchased by Iranian airlines.
He said dealings with groups or individuals with links to terrorist groups will also still be banned. These include the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which controls Iran’s energy shipbuilding and energy sectors, and the commander of the Revolutionary Guards’ elite Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, for his backing of terrorist acts.
Sanctions on the supply of munitions and weapons and software that can be used for military purposes or to infringe on individual privacy will also still be enforced.
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