PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 

IRAN THREAT REDUCTION AND SYRIA 

HUMAN RIGHTS ACT OF 2012 


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126 STAT. 1214 PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 

Public Law 112–158 

112th Congress 

An Act 

To strengthen Iran sanctions laws for the purpose of compelling Iran to abandon 

its pursuit of nuclear weapons and other threatening activities, and for other 

purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Iran Threat 

Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012’’. 

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for this Act 

is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 

Sec. 2. Definitions. 

TITLE I—EXPANSION OF MULTILATERAL SANCTIONS REGIME WITH 

RESPECT TO IRAN 

Sec. 101. Sense of Congress on enforcement of multilateral sanctions regime and 

expansion and implementation of sanctions laws. 

Sec. 102. Diplomatic efforts to expand multilateral sanctions regime. 

TITLE II—EXPANSION OF SANCTIONS RELATING TO THE ENERGY SECTOR 

OF IRAN AND PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION BY 

IRAN 

Subtitle A—Expansion of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 

Sec. 201. Expansion of sanctions with respect to the energy sector of Iran. 

Sec. 202. Imposition of sanctions with respect to transportation of crude oil from 

Iran and evasion of sanctions by shipping companies. 

Sec. 203. Expansion of sanctions with respect to development by Iran of weapons 

of mass destruction. 

Sec. 204. Expansion of sanctions available under the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. 

Sec. 205. Modification of waiver standard under the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. 

Sec. 206. Briefings on implementation of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. 

Sec. 207. Expansion of definitions under the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996. 

Sec. 208. Sense of Congress on energy sector of Iran. 

Subtitle B—Additional Measures Relating to Sanctions Against Iran 

Sec. 211. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the provision of vessels or shipping 

services to transport certain goods related to proliferation or terrorism 

activities to Iran. 

Sec. 212. Imposition of sanctions with respect to provision of underwriting services 

or insurance or reinsurance for the National Iranian Oil Company or 

the National Iranian Tanker Company. 

Sec. 213. Imposition of sanctions with respect to purchase, subscription to, or facilitation of the issuance of Iranian sovereign debt. 

Sec. 214. Imposition of sanctions with respect to subsidiaries and agents of persons 

sanctioned by United Nations Security Council resolutions. 

Sec. 215. Imposition of sanctions with respect to transactions with persons sanctioned for certain activities relating to terrorism or proliferation of 

weapons of mass destruction. 

22 USC 8701 

note. 

Iran Threat 

Reduction and 

Syria Human 

Rights Act of 

2012. 

Aug. 10, 2012 

[H.R. 1905] 


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PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 126 STAT. 1215 

Sec. 216. Expansion of, and reports on, mandatory sanctions with respect to financial institutions that engage in certain activities relating to Iran. 

Sec. 217. Continuation in effect of sanctions with respect to the Government of 

Iran, the Central Bank of Iran, and sanctions evaders. 

Sec. 218. Liability of parent companies for violations of sanctions by foreign subsidiaries. 

Sec. 219. Disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to 

sanctionable activities. 

Sec. 220. Reports on, and authorization of imposition of sanctions with respect to, 

the provision of specialized financial messaging services to the Central 

Bank of Iran and other sanctioned Iranian financial institutions. 

Sec. 221. Identification of, and immigration restrictions on, senior officials of the 

Government of Iran and their family members. 

Sec. 222. Sense of Congress and rule of construction relating to certain authorities 

of State and local governments. 

Sec. 223. Government Accountability Office report on foreign entities that invest in 

the energy sector of Iran or export refined petroleum products to Iran. 

Sec. 224. Reporting on the importation to and exportation from Iran of crude oil 

and refined petroleum products. 

TITLE III—SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD 

CORPS 

Subtitle A—Identification of, and Sanctions With Respect to, Officials, Agents, Affiliates, and Supporters of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and Other Sanctioned 

Persons 

Sec. 301. Identification of, and imposition of sanctions with respect to, officials, 

agents, and affiliates of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

Sec. 302. Identification of, and imposition of sanctions with respect to, persons that 

support or conduct certain transactions with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard 

Corps or other sanctioned persons. 

Sec. 303. Identification of, and imposition of measures with respect to, foreign government agencies carrying out activities or transactions with certain 

Iran-affiliated persons. 

Sec. 304. Rule of construction. 

Subtitle B—Additional Measures Relating to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps 

Sec. 311. Expansion of procurement prohibition to foreign persons that engage in 

certain transactions with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

Sec. 312. Determinations of whether the National Iranian Oil Company and the 

National Iranian Tanker Company are agents or affiliates of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. 

TITLE IV—MEASURES RELATING TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN IRAN 

Subtitle A—Expansion of Sanctions Relating to Human Rights Abuses in Iran 

Sec. 401. Imposition of sanctions on certain persons responsible for or complicit in 

human rights abuses committed against citizens of Iran or their family 

members after the June 12, 2009, elections in Iran. 

Sec. 402. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the transfer of goods or technologies to Iran that are likely to be used to commit human rights 

abuses. 

Sec. 403. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who engage in censorship 

or other related activities against citizens of Iran. 

Subtitle B—Additional Measures to Promote Human Rights 

Sec. 411. Codification of sanctions with respect to grave human rights abuses by 

the governments of Iran and Syria using information technology. 

Sec. 412. Clarification of sensitive technologies for purposes of procurement ban 

under Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment 

Act of 2010. 

Sec. 413. Expedited consideration of requests for authorization of certain human 

rights-, humanitarian-, and democracy-related activities with respect to 

Iran. 

Sec. 414. Comprehensive strategy to promote Internet freedom and access to information in Iran. 

Sec. 415. Statement of policy on political prisoners. 

TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS 

Sec. 501. Exclusion of citizens of Iran seeking education relating to the nuclear and 

energy sectors of Iran. 


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126 STAT. 1216 PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 

Sec. 502. Interests in certain financial assets of Iran. 

Sec. 503. Technical correction to section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. 

Sec. 504. Expansion of sanctions under section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. 

Sec. 505. Reports on natural gas exports from Iran. 

Sec. 506. Report on membership of Iran in international organizations. 

Sec. 507. Sense of Congress on exportation of goods, services, and technologies for 

aircraft produced in the United States. 

TITLE VI—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Sec. 601. Implementation; penalties. 

Sec. 602. Applicability to certain intelligence activities. 

Sec. 603. Applicability to certain natural gas projects. 

Sec. 604. Rule of construction with respect to use of force against Iran and Syria. 

Sec. 605. Termination. 

TITLE VII—SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN 

SYRIA 

Sec. 701. Short title. 

Sec. 702. Imposition of sanctions with respect to certain persons who are responsible for or complicit in human rights abuses committed against citizens 

of Syria or their family members. 

Sec. 703. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the transfer of goods or technologies to Syria that are likely to be used to commit human rights 

abuses. 

Sec. 704. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who engage in censorship 

or other forms of repression in Syria. 

Sec. 705. Waiver. 

Sec. 706. Termination. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

Except as otherwise specifically provided, in this Act: 

(1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES.—The term 

‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ has the meaning given 

that term in section 14 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 

(Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note). 

(2) FINANCIAL TRANSACTION.—The term ‘‘financial transaction’’ means any transfer of value involving a financial 

institution, including the transfer of forwards, futures, options, 

swaps, or precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, 

and palladium. 

(3) KNOWINGLY.—The term ‘‘knowingly’’ has the meaning 

given that term in section 14 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 

1996 (Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note). 

(4) UNITED STATES PERSON.—The term ‘‘United States person’’ has the meaning given that term in section 101 of the 

Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment 

Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8511). 

TITLE I—EXPANSION OF MULTILATERAL SANCTIONS REGIME WITH RESPECT TO IRAN 

SEC. 101. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ENFORCEMENT OF MULTILATERAL 

SANCTIONS REGIME AND EXPANSION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SANCTIONS LAWS. 

It is the sense of Congress that the goal of compelling Iran 

to abandon efforts to acquire a nuclear weapons capability and 

other threatening activities can be effectively achieved through 

a comprehensive policy that includes economic sanctions, diplomacy, 

22 USC 8711. 

22 USC 8701. 


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PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 126 STAT. 1217 

and military planning, capabilities and options, and that this objective is consistent with the one stated by President Barack Obama 

in the 2012 State of the Union Address: ‘‘Let there be no doubt: 

America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear 

weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that 

goal’’. Among the economic measures to be taken are— 

(1) prompt enforcement of the current multilateral sanctions regime with respect to Iran; 

(2) full, timely, and vigorous implementation of all sanctions enacted into law, including sanctions imposed or expanded 

by this Act or amendments made by this Act, through— 

(A) intensified monitoring by the President and the 

designees of the President, including the Secretary of the 

Treasury, the Secretary of State, and senior officials in 

the intelligence community (as defined in section 3(4) of 

the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401a(4)), 

as appropriate; 

(B) more extensive use of extraordinary authorities 

provided for under the International Emergency Economic 

Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) and other sanctions 

laws; 

(C) reallocation of resources to provide the personnel 

necessary, within the Department of the Treasury, the 

Department of State, and the Department of Commerce, 

and, where appropriate, the intelligence community, to 

apply and enforce sanctions; and 

(D) expanded cooperation with international sanctions 

enforcement efforts; 

(3) urgent consideration of the expansion of existing sanctions with respect to such areas as— 

(A) the provision of energy-related services to Iran; 

(B) the provision of insurance and reinsurance services 

to Iran; 

(C) the provision of shipping services to Iran; and 

(D) those Iranian financial institutions not yet designated for the imposition of sanctions that may be acting 

as intermediaries for Iranian financial institutions that 

are designated for the imposition of sanctions; and 

(4) a focus on countering Iran’s efforts to evade sanctions, 

including— 

(A) the activities of telecommunications, Internet, and 

satellite service providers, in and outside of Iran, to ensure 

that such providers are not participating in or facilitating, 

directly or indirectly, the evasion of the sanctions regime 

with respect to Iran or violations of the human rights 

of the people of Iran; 

(B) the activities of financial institutions or other 

businesses or government agencies, in or outside of Iran, 

not yet designated for the imposition of sanctions; and 

(C) urgent and ongoing evaluation of Iran’s energy, 

national security, financial, and telecommunications sectors, to gauge the effects of, and possible defects in, particular sanctions, with prompt efforts to correct any gaps 

in the existing sanctions regime with respect to Iran. 


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126 STAT. 1218 PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 

SEC. 102. DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO EXPAND MULTILATERAL SANCTIONS REGIME. 

(a) MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS.—Congress urges the President to intensify diplomatic efforts, both in appropriate international fora such as the United Nations and bilaterally with allies 

of the United States, for the purpose of— 

(1) expanding the United Nations Security Council sanctions regime to include— 

(A) a prohibition on the issuance of visas to any official 

of the Government of Iran who is involved in— 

(i) human rights violations in or outside of Iran; 

(ii) the development of a nuclear weapons program 

and a ballistic missile capability in Iran; or 

(iii) support by the Government of Iran for terrorist 

organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah; and 

(B) a requirement that each member country of the 

United Nations— 

(i) prohibit the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping 

Lines from landing at seaports, and cargo flights of 

Iran Air from landing at airports, in that country 

because of the role of those organizations in proliferation and illegal arms sales; and 

(ii) apply the prohibitions described in clause (i) 

to other Iranian entities designated for the imposition 

of sanctions on or after the date of the enactment 

of this Act; 

(2) expanding the range of sanctions imposed with respect 

to Iran by allies of the United States; 

(3) expanding efforts to limit the development of petroleum 

resources and the importation of refined petroleum products 

by Iran; 

(4) developing additional initiatives to— 

(A) increase the production of crude oil in countries 

other than Iran; and 

(B) assist countries that purchase or otherwise obtain 

crude oil or petroleum products from Iran to eliminate 

their dependence on crude oil and petroleum products from 

Iran; and 

(5) eliminating the revenue generated by the Government 

of Iran from the sale of petrochemical products produced in 

Iran to other countries. 

(b) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days after 

the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, 

the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the extent to which diplomatic efforts described 

in subsection (a) have been successful that includes— 

(1) an identification of the countries that have agreed to 

impose sanctions or take other measures to further the policy 

set forth in subsection (a); 

(2) the extent of the implementation and enforcement of 

those sanctions or other measures by those countries; 

(3) the criteria the President uses to determine whether 

a country has significantly reduced its crude oil purchases 

from Iran pursuant to section 1245(d)(4)(D) of the National 

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, as amended 

by section 504, including considerations of reductions both in 

terms of volume and price; 

President. 

22 USC 8712. 


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PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 126 STAT. 1219 

(4) an identification of the countries that have not agreed 

to impose such sanctions or measures, including such countries 

granted exceptions for significant reductions in crude oil purchases pursuant to such section 1245(d)(4)(D); 

(5) recommendations for additional measures that the 

United States could take to further diplomatic efforts described 

in subsection (a); and 

(6) the disposition of any decision with respect to sanctions 

imposed with respect to Iran by the World Trade Organization 

or its predecessor organization. 

TITLE II—EXPANSION OF SANCTIONS 

RELATING TO THE ENERGY SECTOR 

OF IRAN AND PROLIFERATION OF 

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION BY 

IRAN 

Subtitle A—Expansion of the Iran 

Sanctions Act of 1996 

SEC. 201. EXPANSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE ENERGY 

SECTOR OF IRAN. 

Section 5(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 

104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 

(1) in the subsection heading, by striking ‘‘WITH RESPECT

TO’’ and all that follows through ‘‘TO IRAN’’ and inserting 

‘‘RELATING TO THE ENERGY SECTOR OF IRAN’’; 

(2) in paragraph (1)(A)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘3 or more’’ and inserting ‘‘5 or more’’; 

and 

(B) by striking ‘‘the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, 

Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010’’ and inserting 

‘‘the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act 

of 2012’’; 

(3) in paragraph (2)— 

(A) in subparagraph (A)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘3 or more’’ and inserting ‘‘5 or 

more’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, 

Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010’’ and 

inserting ‘‘the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human 

Rights Act of 2012’’; and 

(B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting before the period 

at the end the following: ‘‘or directly associated infrastructure, including construction of port facilities, railways, and 

roads, the primary use of which is to support the delivery 

of refined petroleum products’’; 

(4) in paragraph (3)— 

(A) in subparagraph (A)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘3 or more’’ and inserting ‘‘5 or 

more’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, 

Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010’’ and 

50 USC 1701 

note. 

President. 

Determinations. 


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126 STAT. 1220 PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 

inserting ‘‘the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human 

Rights Act of 2012’’; and 

(B) in subparagraph (B)— 

(i) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘; or’’ and inserting 

a semicolon; 

(ii) in clause (iii), by striking the period at the 

end and inserting a semicolon; and 

(iii) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(iv) bartering or contracting by which goods are 

exchanged for goods, including the insurance or 

reinsurance of such exchanges; or 

‘‘(v) purchasing, subscribing to, or facilitating the 

issuance of sovereign debt of the Government of Iran, 

including governmental bonds, issued on or after the 

date of the enactment of the Iran Threat Reduction 

and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012.’’; and 

(5) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(4) JOINT VENTURES WITH IRAN RELATING TO DEVELOPING

PETROLEUM RESOURCES.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 

(B) or subsection (f), the President shall impose 5 or more 

of the sanctions described in section 6(a) with respect to 

a person if the President determines that the person knowingly participates, on or after the date of the enactment 

of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights 

Act of 2012, in a joint venture with respect to the development of petroleum resources outside of Iran if— 

‘‘(i) the joint venture is established on or after 

January 1, 2002; and 

‘‘(ii)(I) the Government of Iran is a substantial 

partner or investor in the joint venture; or 

‘‘(II) Iran could, through a direct operational role 

in the joint venture or by other means, receive technological knowledge or equipment not previously available to Iran that could directly and significantly contribute to the enhancement of Iran’s ability to develop 

petroleum resources in Iran. 

‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY.—Subparagraph (A) shall not apply 

with respect to participation in a joint venture established 

on or after January 1, 2002, and before the date of the 

enactment of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human 

Rights Act of 2012, if the person participating in the joint 

venture terminates that participation not later than the 

date that is 180 days after such date of enactment. 

‘‘(5) SUPPORT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PETROLEUM

RESOURCES AND REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IN IRAN.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

(f), the President shall impose 5 or more of the sanctions 

described in section 6(a) with respect to a person if the 

President determines that the person knowingly, on or 

after the date of the enactment of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, sells, leases, 

or provides to Iran goods, services, technology, or support 

described in subparagraph (B)— 

‘‘(i) any of which has a fair market value of 

$1,000,000 or more; or 

Deadline. 


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PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 126 STAT. 1221 

‘‘(ii) that, during a 12-month period, have an aggregate fair market value of $5,000,000 or more. 

‘‘(B) GOODS, SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY, OR SUPPORT

DESCRIBED.—Goods, services, technology, or support 

described in this subparagraph are goods, services, technology, or support that could directly and significantly contribute to the maintenance or enhancement of Iran’s— 

‘‘(i) ability to develop petroleum resources located 

in Iran; or 

‘‘(ii) domestic production of refined petroleum products, including any direct and significant assistance 

with respect to the construction, modernization, or 

repair of petroleum refineries or directly associated 

infrastructure, including construction of port facilities, 

railways, and roads, the primary use of which is to 

support the delivery of refined petroleum products. 

‘‘(6) DEVELOPMENT AND PURCHASE OF PETROCHEMICAL PRODUCTS FROM IRAN.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

(f), the President shall impose 5 or more of the sanctions 

described in section 6(a) with respect to a person if the 

President determines that the person knowingly, on or 

after the date of the enactment of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, sells, leases, 

or provides to Iran goods, services, technology, or support 

described in subparagraph (B)— 

‘‘(i) any of which has a fair market value of 

$250,000 or more; or 

‘‘(ii) that, during a 12-month period, have an aggregate fair market value of $1,000,000 or more. 

‘‘(B) GOODS, SERVICES, TECHNOLOGY, OR SUPPORT

DESCRIBED.—Goods, services, technology, or support 

described in this subparagraph are goods, services, technology, or support that could directly and significantly contribute to the maintenance or expansion of Iran’s domestic 

production of petrochemical products.’’. 

SEC. 202. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO TRANSPORTATION OF CRUDE OIL FROM IRAN AND EVASION OF SANCTIONS BY SHIPPING COMPANIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 

1996, as amended by section 201, is further amended by adding 

at the end the following: 

‘‘(7) TRANSPORTATION OF CRUDE OIL FROM IRAN.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

(f), the President shall impose 5 or more of the sanctions 

described in section 6(a) with respect to a person if the 

President determines that— 

‘‘(i) the person is a controlling beneficial owner 

of, or otherwise owns, operates, or controls, or insures, 

a vessel that, on or after the date that is 90 days 

after the date of the enactment of the Iran Threat 

Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, was 

used to transport crude oil from Iran to another 

country; and 

Time period. 

Time period. 


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126 STAT. 1222 PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 

‘‘(ii)(I) in the case of a person that is a controlling 

beneficial owner of the vessel, the person had actual 

knowledge the vessel was so used; or 

‘‘(II) in the case of a person that otherwise owns, 

operates, or controls, or insures, the vessel, the person 

knew or should have known the vessel was so used. 

‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY OF SANCTIONS.— ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in clause 

(ii), subparagraph (A) shall apply with respect to the 

transportation of crude oil from Iran only if a determination of the President under section 1245(d)(4)(B) 

of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

Year 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8513a(d)(4)(B)) that there is a 

sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products 

produced in countries other than Iran to permit purchasers of petroleum and petroleum products from Iran 

to reduce significantly their purchases from Iran is 

in effect at the time of the transportation of the crude 

oil. 

‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN COUNTRIES.— 

Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to the 

transportation of crude oil from Iran to a country to 

which the exception under paragraph (4)(D) of section 

1245(d) of the National Defense Authorization Act for 

Fiscal Year 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8513a(d)) to the imposition 

of sanctions under paragraph (1) of that section applies 

at the time of the transportation of the crude oil. 

‘‘(8) CONCEALING IRANIAN ORIGIN OF CRUDE OIL AND

REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 

(f), the President shall impose 5 or more of the sanctions 

described in section 6(a) with respect to a person if the 

President determines that the person is a controlling beneficial owner, or otherwise owns, operates, or controls, a 

vessel that, on or after the date that is 90 days after 

the date of the enactment of the Iran Threat Reduction 

and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, is used, with actual 

knowledge in the case of a person that is a controlling 

beneficial owner or knowingly in the case of a person 

that otherwise owns, operates, or controls the vessel, in 

a manner that conceals the Iranian origin of crude oil 

or refined petroleum products transported on the vessel, 

including by— 

‘‘(i) permitting the operator of the vessel to suspend 

the operation of the vessel’s satellite tracking device; 

or 

‘‘(ii) obscuring or concealing the ownership, operation, or control of the vessel by— 

‘‘(I) the Government of Iran; 

‘‘(II) the National Iranian Tanker Company 

or the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines; 

or 

‘‘(III) any other entity determined by the President to be owned or controlled by the Government 

of Iran or an entity specified in subclause (II). 

‘‘(B) ADDITIONAL SANCTION.—Subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe and in addition to 

Time period. 


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the sanctions imposed under subparagraph (A), the President may prohibit a vessel owned, operated, or controlled 

by a person, including a controlling beneficial owner, with 

respect to which the President has imposed sanctions under 

that subparagraph and that was used for the activity for 

which the President imposed those sanctions from landing 

at a port in the United States for a period of not more 

than 2 years after the date on which the President imposed 

those sanctions. 

‘‘(C) VESSELS IDENTIFIED BY THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN

ASSETS CONTROL.—For purposes of subparagraph (A)(ii), 

a person shall be deemed to have actual knowledge that 

a vessel is owned, operated, or controlled by the Government of Iran or an entity specified in subclause (II) or 

(III) of subparagraph (A)(ii) if the International Maritime 

Organization vessel registration identification for the vessel 

is— 

‘‘(i) included on a list of specially designated 

nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office 

of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the 

Treasury for activities with respect to Iran; and 

‘‘(ii) identified by the Office of Foreign Assets Control as a vessel in which the Government of Iran or 

any entity specified in subclause (II) or (III) of subparagraph (A)(ii) has an interest. 

‘‘(D) DEFINITION OF IRANIAN ORIGIN.—For purposes of 

subparagraph (A), the term ‘Iranian origin’ means— 

‘‘(i) with respect to crude oil, that the crude oil 

was extracted in Iran; and 

‘‘(ii) with respect to a refined petroleum product, 

that the refined petroleum product was produced or 

refined in Iran. 

‘‘(9) EXCEPTION FOR PROVISION OF UNDERWRITING SERVICES

AND INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE.—The President may not 

impose sanctions under paragraph (7) or (8) with respect to 

a person that provides underwriting services or insurance or 

reinsurance if the President determines that the person has 

exercised due diligence in establishing and enforcing official 

policies, procedures, and controls to ensure that the person 

does not provide underwriting services or insurance or reinsurance for the transportation of crude oil or refined petroleum 

products from Iran in a manner for which sanctions may be 

imposed under either such paragraph.’’. 

(b) REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES.—Not later than 90 days 

after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 

prescribe such regulations or guidelines as are necessary to implement paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) of section 5(a) of the Iran Sanctions 

Act of 1996, as added by this section, including such regulations 

or guidelines as are necessary to implement subparagraph (B) of 

such paragraph (8). 

SEC. 203. EXPANSION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO DEVELOPMENT BY IRAN OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5(b) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 

1996 (Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 

(1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and 

(2) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: 

Deadline. 

50 USC 1701 

note. 


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126 STAT. 1224 PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 

‘‘(1) EXPORTS, TRANSFERS, AND TRANSSHIPMENTS.—Except 

as provided in subsection (f), the President shall impose 5 

or more of the sanctions described in section 6(a) with respect 

to a person if the President determines that the person— 

‘‘(A) on or after the date of the enactment of the Iran 

Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, 

exported or transferred, or permitted or otherwise facilitated the transshipment of, any goods, services, technology, 

or other items to any other person; and 

‘‘(B) knew or should have known that— 

‘‘(i) the export, transfer, or transshipment of the 

goods, services, technology, or other items would likely 

result in another person exporting, transferring, transshipping, or otherwise providing the goods, services, 

technology, or other items to Iran; and 

‘‘(ii) the export, transfer, transshipment, or other 

provision of the goods, services, technology, or other 

items to Iran would contribute materially to the ability 

of Iran to— 

‘‘(I) acquire or develop chemical, biological, or 

nuclear weapons or related technologies; or 

‘‘(II) acquire or develop destabilizing numbers 

and types of advanced conventional weapons. 

‘‘(2) JOINT VENTURES RELATING TO THE MINING, PRODUCTION, OR TRANSPORTATION OF URANIUM.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subparagraph 

(B) or subsection (f), the President shall impose 5 or more 

of the sanctions described in section 6(a) with respect to 

a person if the President determines that the person knowingly participated, on or after the date of the enactment 

of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights 

Act of 2012, in a joint venture that involves any activity 

relating to the mining, production, or transportation of 

uranium— 

‘‘(i)(I) established on or after February 2, 2012; 

and 

‘‘(II) with— 

‘‘(aa) the Government of Iran; 

‘‘(bb) an entity incorporated in Iran or subject 

to the jurisdiction of the Government of Iran; or 

‘‘(cc) a person acting on behalf of or at the 

direction of, or owned or controlled by, the Government of Iran or an entity described in item (bb); 

or 

‘‘(ii)(I) established before February 2, 2012; 

‘‘(II) with the Government of Iran, an entity 

described in item (bb) of clause (i)(II), or a person 

described in item (cc) of that clause; and 

‘‘(III) through which— 

‘‘(aa) uranium is transferred directly to Iran 

or indirectly to Iran through a third country; 

‘‘(bb) the Government of Iran receives significant revenue; or 

‘‘(cc) Iran could, through a direct operational 

role or by other means, receive technological 

knowledge or equipment not previously available 

to Iran that could contribute materially to the 


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ability of Iran to develop nuclear weapons or 

related technologies. 

‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY OF SANCTIONS.—Subparagraph (A) 

shall not apply with respect to participation in a joint 

venture established before the date of the enactment of 

the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act 

of 2012 if the person participating in the joint venture 

terminates that participation not later than the date that 

is 180 days after such date of enactment.’’. 

(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—The Iran Sanctions Act of 

1996, as amended by this section and sections 201 and 202, is 

further amended— 

(1) in section 5— 

(A) in paragraph (3) of subsection (b), as redesignated 

by subsection (a)(1) of this section— 

(i) by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)’’ each place it appears 

and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1) or (2)’’; and 

(ii) in subparagraph (F)— 

(I) by striking ‘‘that paragraph’’ and inserting 

‘‘paragraph (1) or (2), as the case may be’’; and 

(II) by striking ‘‘the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010’’ 

and inserting ‘‘the Iran Threat Reduction and 

Syria Human Rights Act of 2012’’; 

(B) in subsection (c)— 

(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 

striking ‘‘subsections (a) and (b)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection 

(b)’’; and 

(ii) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘subsection (a) 

or (b)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a) or paragraph 

(1) or (2) of subsection (b)’’; and 

(C) in subsection (f)— 

(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 

striking ‘‘subsection (a) or (b)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a) or paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b)’’; 

and 

(ii) by redesignating paragraphs (6) and (7) as 

paragraphs (5) and (6), respectively; and 

(2) in section 9, by striking ‘‘section 5(a) or 5(b)(1)’’ each 

place it appears and inserting ‘‘subsection (a) or paragraph 

(1) or (2) of subsection (b) of section 5’’. 

SEC. 204. EXPANSION OF SANCTIONS AVAILABLE UNDER THE IRAN 

SANCTIONS ACT OF 1996. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 

1996 (Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 

(1) by redesignating paragraph (9) as paragraph (12); and 

(2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following: 

‘‘(9) BAN ON INVESTMENT IN EQUITY OR DEBT OF SANCTIONED

PERSON.—The President may, pursuant to such regulations or 

guidelines as the President may prescribe, prohibit any United 

States person from investing in or purchasing significant 

amounts of equity or debt instruments of a sanctioned person. 

‘‘(10) EXCLUSION OF CORPORATE OFFICERS.—The President 

may direct the Secretary of State to deny a visa to, and the 

Secretary of Homeland Security to exclude from the United 

Deadline. 


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States, any alien that the President determines is a corporate 

officer or principal of, or a shareholder with a controlling 

interest in, a sanctioned person. 

‘‘(11) SANCTIONS ON PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.—The 

President may impose on the principal executive officer or 

officers of any sanctioned person, or on persons performing 

similar functions and with similar authorities as such officer 

or officers, any of the sanctions under this subsection.’’. 

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection 

(a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 

and apply with respect to activities described in subsections (a) 

and (b) of section 5 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, as amended 

by this title, commenced on or after such date of enactment. 

SEC. 205. MODIFICATION OF WAIVER STANDARD UNDER THE IRAN 

SANCTIONS ACT OF 1996. 

Section 9(c) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, as amended 

by section 203, is further amended by striking paragraph (1) and 

inserting the following: 

‘‘(1) AUTHORITY.— ‘‘(A) SANCTIONS RELATING TO THE ENERGY SECTOR OF

IRAN.—The President may waive, on a case-by-case basis 

and for a period of not more than one year, the requirement 

in section 5(a) to impose a sanction or sanctions on a 

person described in section 5(c), and may waive the continued imposition of a sanction or sanctions under subsection 

(b) of this section, 30 days or more after the President 

determines and so reports to the appropriate congressional 

committees that it is essential to the national security 

interests of the United States to exercise such waiver 

authority. 

‘‘(B) SANCTIONS RELATING TO DEVELOPMENT OF

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OR OTHER MILITARY

CAPABILITIES.—The President may waive, on a case-by-case 

basis and for a period of not more than one year, the 

requirement in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 5(b) to impose 

a sanction or sanctions on a person described in section 

5(c), and may waive the continued imposition of a sanction 

or sanctions under subsection (b) of this section, 30 days 

or more after the President determines and so reports 

to the appropriate congressional committees that it is vital 

to the national security interests of the United States to 

exercise such waiver authority. 

‘‘(C) RENEWAL OF WAIVERS.—The President may renew, 

on a case-by-case basis, a waiver with respect to a person 

under subparagraph (A) or (B) for additional one-year 

periods if, not later than 30 days before the waiver expires, 

the President makes the determination and submits to 

the appropriate congressional committees the report 

described in subparagraph (A) or (B), as applicable.’’. 

SEC. 206. BRIEFINGS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE IRAN SANCTIONS 

ACT OF 1996. 

Section 4 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104– 

172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended by adding at the end the 

following: 

‘‘(f) BRIEFINGS ON IMPLEMENTATION.—Not later than 90 days 

after the date of the enactment of the Iran Threat Reduction and 

Deadlines. 

Reports. 

Applicability. 

50 USC 1701 

note. 


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Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, and every 120 days thereafter, 

the President, acting through the Secretary of State, shall provide 

to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive 

briefing on efforts to implement this Act.’’. 

SEC. 207. EXPANSION OF DEFINITIONS UNDER THE IRAN SANCTIONS 

ACT OF 1996. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 14 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 

(Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (17) and (18) as paragraphs 

(20) and (21), respectively; 

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (15) and (16) as paragraphs 

(17) and (18), respectively; 

(3) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (14) as paragraphs (5) through (15), respectively; 

(4) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: 

‘‘(4) CREDIBLE INFORMATION.—The term ‘credible information’, with respect to a person— 

‘‘(A) includes— 

‘‘(i) a public announcement by the person that 

the person has engaged in an activity described in 

subsection (a) or (b) of section 5; and 

‘‘(ii) information set forth in a report to stockholders of the person indicating that the person has 

engaged in such an activity; and 

‘‘(B) may include, in the discretion of the President— 

‘‘(i) an announcement by the Government of Iran 

that the person has engaged in such an activity; or 

‘‘(ii) information indicating that the person has 

engaged in such an activity that is set forth in— 

‘‘(I) a report of the Government Accountability 

Office, the Energy Information Administration, or 

the Congressional Research Service; or 

‘‘(II) a report or publication of a similarly reputable governmental organization or trade or 

industry organization.’’; 

(5) by inserting after paragraph (15), as redesignated by 

paragraph (3), the following: 

‘‘(16) PETROCHEMICAL PRODUCT.—The term ‘petrochemical 

product’ includes any aromatic, olefin, or synthesis gas, and 

any derivative of such a gas, including ethylene, propylene, 

butadiene, benzene, toluene, xylene, ammonia, methanol, and 

urea.’’; and 

(6) by inserting after paragraph (18), as redesignated by 

paragraph (2), the following: 

‘‘(19) SERVICES.—The term ‘services’ includes software, 

hardware, financial, professional consulting, engineering, and 

specialized energy information services, energy-related technical assistance, and maintenance and repairs.’’. 

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection 

(a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act 

and apply with respect to activities described in subsections (a) 

and (b) of section 5 of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, as amended 

by this title, commenced on or after such date of enactment. 

SEC. 208. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ENERGY SECTOR OF IRAN. 

It is the sense of Congress that— 

Applicability. 

50 USC 1701 

note. 

Definition. 

Definition. 

Definition. 


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(1) the energy sector of Iran remains a zone of proliferation 

concern since the Government of Iran continues to divert 

substantial revenues derived from sales of petroleum resources 

to finance its illicit nuclear and missile activities; and 

(2) the President should apply the full range of sanctions 

under the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, as amended by this 

Act, to address the threat posed by the Government of Iran. 

Subtitle B—Additional Measures Relating 

to Sanctions Against Iran 

SEC. 211. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE PROVISION OF VESSELS OR SHIPPING SERVICES TO TRANSPORT 

CERTAIN GOODS RELATED TO PROLIFERATION OR TERRORISM ACTIVITIES TO IRAN. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (c), if the 

President determines that a person, on or after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, knowingly sells, leases, or provides a vessel 

or provides insurance or reinsurance or any other shipping service 

for the transportation to or from Iran of goods that could materially 

contribute to the activities of the Government of Iran with respect 

to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or support 

for acts of international terrorism, the President shall, pursuant 

to Executive Order No. 13382 (70 Fed. Reg. 38567; relating to 

blocking of property of weapons of mass destruction proliferators 

and their supporters) or Executive Order No. 13224 (66 Fed. Reg. 

49079; relating to blocking property and prohibiting transactions 

with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism), 

or otherwise pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 

Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), block and prohibit all transactions in all property and interests in property of the persons 

specified in subsection (b) if such property and interests in property 

are in the United States, come within the United States, or are 

or come within the possession or control of a United States person. 

(b) PERSONS SPECIFIED.—The persons specified in this subsection are— 

(1) the person that sold, leased, or provided a vessel or 

provided insurance or reinsurance or another shipping service 

described in subsection (a); and 

(2) any person that— 

(A) is a successor entity to the person referred to 

in paragraph (1); 

(B) owns or controls the person referred to in paragraph (1), if the person that owns or controls the person 

referred to in paragraph (1) had actual knowledge or should 

have known that the person referred to in paragraph (1) 

sold, leased, or provided the vessel or provided the insurance or reinsurance or other shipping service; or 

(C) is owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or control with, the person referred to in paragraph 

(1), if the person owned or controlled by, or under common 

ownership or control with (as the case may be), the person 

referred to in paragraph (1) knowingly engaged in the 

sale, lease, or provision of the vessel or the provision of 

the insurance or reinsurance or other shipping service. 

22 USC 8721. 


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(c) WAIVER.—The President may waive the requirement to 

impose sanctions with respect to a person under subsection (a) 

on or after the date that is 30 days after the President— 

(1) determines that such a waiver is vital to the national 

security interests of the United States; and 

(2) submits to the appropriate congressional committees 

a report that contains the reasons for that determination. 

(d) REPORT REQUIRED.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, 

the Secretary of the Treasury, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

committees a report identifying operators of vessels and other 

persons that conduct or facilitate significant financial transactions with persons that manage ports in Iran that have 

been designated for the imposition of sanctions pursuant to 

the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 

1701 et seq.). 

(2) FORM OF REPORT.—A report submitted under paragraph 

(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain 

a classified annex. 

(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

construed to limit the authority of the President to designate persons for the imposition of sanctions pursuant to Executive Order 

No. 13382 (70 Fed. Reg. 38567; relating to the blocking of property 

of weapons of mass destruction proliferators and their supporters) 

or Executive Order No. 13224 (66 Fed. Reg. 49079; relating to 

blocking property and prohibiting transactions with persons who 

commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism), or otherwise 

pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 

(50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 

SEC. 212. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PROVISION 

OF UNDERWRITING SERVICES OR INSURANCE OR 

REINSURANCE FOR THE NATIONAL IRANIAN OIL COMPANY 

OR THE NATIONAL IRANIAN TANKER COMPANY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection (b), not 

later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

the President shall impose 5 or more of the sanctions described 

in section 6(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, as amended 

by section 204, with respect to a person if the President determines 

that the person knowingly, on or after such date of enactment, 

provides underwriting services or insurance or reinsurance for the 

National Iranian Oil Company, the National Iranian Tanker Company, or a successor entity to either such company. 

(b) EXCEPTIONS.— 

(1) UNDERWRITERS AND INSURANCE PROVIDERS EXERCISING

DUE DILIGENCE.—The President is authorized not to impose 

sanctions under subsection (a) with respect to a person that 

provides underwriting services or insurance or reinsurance if 

the President determines that the person has exercised due 

diligence in establishing and enforcing official policies, procedures, and controls to ensure that the person does not provide 

underwriting services or insurance or reinsurance for the 

National Iranian Oil Company, the National Iranian Tanker 

Company, or a successor entity to either such company. 

Deadline. 

22 USC 8722. 

Time period. 

Reports. 


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(2) FOOD; MEDICINE; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.—The 

President may not impose sanctions under subsection (a) for 

the provision of underwriting services or insurance or reinsurance for any activity relating solely to— 

(A) the provision of agricultural commodities, food, 

medicine, or medical devices to Iran; or 

(B) the provision of humanitarian assistance to the 

people of Iran. 

(3) TERMINATION PERIOD.—The President is authorized not 

to impose sanctions under subsection (a) with respect to a 

person if the President receives reliable assurances that the 

person will terminate the provision of underwriting services 

or insurance or reinsurance for the National Iranian Oil Company, the National Iranian Tanker Company, and any successor 

entity to either such company, not later than the date that 

is 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY.—The term ‘‘agricultural 

commodity’’ has the meaning given that term in section 102 

of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5602). 

(2) MEDICAL DEVICE.—The term ‘‘medical device’’ has the 

meaning given the term ‘‘device’’ in section 201 of the Federal 

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321). 

(3) MEDICINE.—The term ‘‘medicine’’ has the meaning given 

the term ‘‘drug’’ in section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, 

and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321). 

(d) APPLICATION OF PROVISIONS OF IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF

1996.—The following provisions of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, 

as amended by this Act, apply with respect to the imposition of 

sanctions under subsection (a) to the same extent that such provisions apply with respect to the imposition of sanctions under section 

5(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996: 

(1) Subsection (c) of section 4. 

(2) Subsections (c), (d), and (f) of section 5. 

(3) Section 8. 

(4) Section 9. 

(5) Section 11. 

(6) Section 12. 

(7) Subsection (b) of section 13. 

(8) Section 14. 

(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION AND IMPLEMENTATION.—Nothing 

in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the 

President to impose sanctions pursuant to the Iran Sanctions Act 

of 1996 (Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note), the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 

(22 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.), the International Emergency Economic 

Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), section 1245 of the National 

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8513a), 

or any other provision of this Act. 

SEC. 213. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PURCHASE, 

SUBSCRIPTION TO, OR FACILITATION OF THE ISSUANCE 

OF IRANIAN SOVEREIGN DEBT. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose 5 or more of 

the sanctions described in section 6(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act 

of 1996, as amended by section 204, with respect to a person 

if the President determines that the person knowingly, on or after 

22 USC 8723. 


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the date of the enactment of this Act, purchases, subscribes to, 

or facilitates the issuance of— 

(1) sovereign debt of the Government of Iran issued on 

or after such date of enactment, including governmental bonds; 

or 

(2) debt of any entity owned or controlled by the Government of Iran issued on or after such date of enactment, 

including bonds. 

(b) APPLICATION OF PROVISIONS OF IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF

1996.—The following provisions of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, 

as amended by this Act, apply with respect to the imposition of 

sanctions under subsection (a) to the same extent that such provisions apply with respect to the imposition of sanctions under section 

5(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996: 

(1) Subsection (c) of section 4. 

(2) Subsections (c), (d), and (f) of section 5. 

(3) Section 8. 

(4) Section 9. 

(5) Section 11. 

(6) Section 12. 

(7) Subsection (b) of section 13. 

(8) Section 14. 

SEC. 214. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO SUBSIDIARIES 

AND AGENTS OF PERSONS SANCTIONED BY UNITED 

NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 104(c)(2)(B) of the Comprehensive 

Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 

U.S.C. 8513(c)(2)(B)) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘of a person subject’’ and inserting the 

following: ‘‘of— 

‘‘(i) a person subject’’; 

(2) in clause (i), as designated by paragraph (1), by striking 

the semicolon and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(ii) a person acting on behalf of or at the direction 

of, or owned or controlled by, a person described in 

clause (i);’’. 

(b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 

make such revisions to the regulations prescribed under section 

104 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and 

Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513) as are necessary to carry 

out the amendments made by subsection (a). 

SEC. 215. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO TRANSACTIONS WITH PERSONS SANCTIONED FOR CERTAIN 

ACTIVITIES RELATING TO TERRORISM OR PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 104(c)(2)(E)(ii) of the Comprehensive 

Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 

U.S.C. 8513(c)(2)(E)(ii)) is amended in the matter preceding subclause (I) by striking ‘‘financial institution’’ and inserting ‘‘person’’. 

(b) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 

make such revisions to the regulations prescribed under section 

104 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and 

Deadline. 

22 USC 8513 

note. 

Deadline. 

22 USC 8513 

note. 


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Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513) as are necessary to carry 

out the amendment made by subsection (a). 

SEC. 216. EXPANSION OF, AND REPORTS ON, MANDATORY SANCTIONS 

WITH RESPECT TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT 

ENGAGE IN CERTAIN ACTIVITIES RELATING TO IRAN. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) is 

amended by inserting after section 104 the following: 

‘‘SEC. 104A. EXPANSION OF, AND REPORTS ON, MANDATORY SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT 

ENGAGE IN CERTAIN ACTIVITIES. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 

the enactment of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human 

Rights Act of 2012, the Secretary of the Treasury shall revise 

the regulations prescribed under section 104(c)(1) to apply to a 

foreign financial institution described in subsection (b) to the same 

extent and in the same manner as those regulations apply to 

a foreign financial institution that the Secretary of the Treasury 

finds knowingly engages in an activity described in section 104(c)(2). 

‘‘(b) FOREIGN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS DESCRIBED.—A foreign 

financial institution described in this subsection is a foreign financial institution, including an Iranian financial institution, that the 

Secretary of the Treasury finds— 

‘‘(1) knowingly facilitates, or participates or assists in, an 

activity described in section 104(c)(2), including by acting on 

behalf of, at the direction of, or as an intermediary for, or 

otherwise assisting, another person with respect to the activity; 

‘‘(2) attempts or conspires to facilitate or participate in 

such an activity; or 

‘‘(3) is owned or controlled by a foreign financial institution 

that the Secretary finds knowingly engages in such an activity. 

‘‘(c) REPORTS REQUIRED.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of the enactment of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria 

Human Rights Act of 2012, and every 180 days thereafter, 

the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to the appropriate 

congressional committees a report that contains a detailed 

description of— 

‘‘(A) the effect of the regulations prescribed under section 104(c)(1) on the financial system and economy of Iran 

and capital flows to and from Iran; and 

‘‘(B) the ways in which funds move into and out of 

financial institutions described in section 104(c)(2)(E)(ii), 

with specific attention to the use of other Iranian financial 

institutions and other foreign financial institutions to 

receive and transfer funds for financial institutions 

described in that section. 

‘‘(2) FORM OF REPORT.—Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 

contain a classified annex. 

‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

‘‘(1) FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.—The term ‘financial institution’ means a financial institution specified in subparagraph 

(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H), (I), (J), (K), (M), (N), (R), 

or (Y) of section 5312(a)(2) of title 31, United States Code. 

Regulations. 

Applicability. 

22 USC 8513b. 


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‘‘(2) FOREIGN FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.—The term ‘foreign 

financial institution’ has the meaning of that term as determined by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to section 

104(i). 

‘‘(3) IRANIAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.—The term ‘Iranian 

financial institution’ means— 

‘‘(A) a financial institution organized under the laws 

of Iran or any jurisdiction within Iran, including a foreign 

branch of such an institution; 

‘‘(B) a financial institution located in Iran; 

‘‘(C) a financial institution, wherever located, owned 

or controlled by the Government of Iran; and 

‘‘(D) a financial institution, wherever located, owned 

or controlled by a financial institution described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C).’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents for the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 

2010 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 

104 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 104A. Expansion of, and reports on, mandatory sanctions with respect to financial institutions that engage in certain activities.’’. 

SEC. 217. CONTINUATION IN EFFECT OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT 

TO THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN, THE CENTRAL BANK OF 

IRAN, AND SANCTIONS EVADERS. 

(a) SANCTIONS RELATING TO BLOCKING OF PROPERTY OF THE

GOVERNMENT OF IRAN AND IRANIAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.— 

United States sanctions with respect to Iran provided for in Executive Order No. 13599 (77 Fed. Reg. 6659), as in effect on the 

day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall remain 

in effect until the date that is 90 days after the date on which 

the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees 

the certification described in subsection (d). 

(b) SANCTIONS RELATING TO FOREIGN SANCTIONS EVADERS.— 

United States sanctions with respect to Iran provided for in Executive Order No. 13608 (77 Fed. Reg. 26409), as in effect on the 

day before the date of the enactment of this Act, shall remain 

in effect until the date that is 30 days after the date on which 

the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees 

the certification described in section 401(a) of the Comprehensive 

Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 

U.S.C. 8551(a)). 

(c) CONTINUATION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRAN.—In addition to the sanctions referred to in 

subsection (a), the President shall continue to apply to the Central 

Bank of Iran sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency 

Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), including blocking 

of property and restrictions or prohibitions on financial transactions 

and the exportation of property, until the date that is 90 days 

after the date on which the President submits to Congress the 

certification described in subsection (d). 

(d) CERTIFICATION DESCRIBED.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The certification described in this subsection is the certification of the President to Congress that 

the Central Bank of Iran is not— 

(A) providing financial services in support of, or otherwise facilitating, the ability of Iran to— 

Deadline. 

Certification. 

Deadline. 

22 USC 8724. 


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(i) acquire or develop chemical, biological, or 

nuclear weapons, or related technologies; 

(ii) construct, equip, operate, or maintain nuclear 

facilities that could aid Iran’s effort to acquire a nuclear 

capability; or 

(iii) acquire or develop ballistic missiles, cruise 

missiles, or destabilizing types and amounts of conventional weapons; or 

(B) facilitating transactions or providing financial services for— 

(i) Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps; or 

(ii) financial institutions the property or interests 

in property of which are blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 

1701 et seq.) in connection with— 

(I) Iran’s proliferation of weapons of mass 

destruction or delivery systems for weapons of 

mass destruction; or 

(II) Iran’s support for international terrorism. 

(2) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The President shall submit the certification described in paragraph (1) to the appropriate 

congressional committees in writing and shall include a 

justification for the certification. 

(B) FORM OF CERTIFICATION.—The certification 

described in paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. 

(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

construed to limit the authority of the President pursuant to the 

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 

et seq.) or the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and 

Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.). 

SEC. 218. LIABILITY OF PARENT COMPANIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF 

SANCTIONS BY FOREIGN SUBSIDIARIES. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) ENTITY.—The term ‘‘entity’’ means a partnership, 

association, trust, joint venture, corporation, or other organization. 

(2) OWN OR CONTROL.—The term ‘‘own or control’’ means, 

with respect to an entity— 

(A) to hold more than 50 percent of the equity interest 

by vote or value in the entity; 

(B) to hold a majority of seats on the board of directors 

of the entity; or 

(C) to otherwise control the actions, policies, or personnel decisions of the entity. 

(b) PROHIBITION.—Not later than 60 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, the President shall prohibit an entity 

owned or controlled by a United States person and established 

or maintained outside the United States from knowingly engaging 

in any transaction directly or indirectly with the Government of 

Iran or any person subject to the jurisdiction of the Government 

of Iran that would be prohibited by an order or regulation issued 

pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 

(50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) if the transaction were engaged in by 

a United States person or in the United States. 

Deadline. 

22 USC 8725. 


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(c) CIVIL PENALTY.—The civil penalties provided for in section 

206(b) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 

U.S.C. 1705(b)) shall apply to a United States person to the same 

extent that such penalties apply to a person that commits an 

unlawful act described in section 206(a) of that Act if an entity 

owned or controlled by the United States person and established 

or maintained outside the United States violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes a violation of any order or 

regulation issued to implement subsection (b). 

(d) APPLICABILITY.—Subsection (c) shall not apply with respect 

to a transaction described in subsection (b) by an entity owned 

or controlled by a United States person and established or maintained outside the United States if the United States person divests 

or terminates its business with the entity not later than the date 

that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 219. DISCLOSURES TO THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION RELATING TO SANCTIONABLE ACTIVITIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act 

of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78m) is amended by adding at the end the 

following new subsection: 

‘‘(r) DISCLOSURE OF CERTAIN ACTIVITIES RELATING TO IRAN.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Each issuer required to file an annual 

or quarterly report under subsection (a) shall disclose in that 

report the information required by paragraph (2) if, during 

the period covered by the report, the issuer or any affiliate 

of the issuer— 

‘‘(A) knowingly engaged in an activity described in 

subsection (a) or (b) of section 5 of the Iran Sanctions 

Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note); 

‘‘(B) knowingly engaged in an activity described in 

subsection (c)(2) of section 104 of the Comprehensive Iran 

Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 

U.S.C. 8513) or a transaction described in subsection (d)(1) 

of that section; 

‘‘(C) knowingly engaged in an activity described in 

section 105A(b)(2) of that Act; or 

‘‘(D) knowingly conducted any transaction or dealing 

with— 

‘‘(i) any person the property and interests in property of which are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 

No. 13224 (66 Fed. Reg. 49079; relating to blocking 

property and prohibiting transactions with persons who 

commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism); 

‘‘(ii) any person the property and interests in property of which are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 

No. 13382 (70 Fed. Reg. 38567; relating to blocking 

of property of weapons of mass destruction proliferators 

and their supporters); or 

‘‘(iii) any person or entity identified under section 

560.304 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations 

(relating to the definition of the Government of Iran) 

without the specific authorization of a Federal department or agency. 

‘‘(2) INFORMATION REQUIRED.—If an issuer or an affiliate 

of the issuer has engaged in any activity described in paragraph 

Applicability. 


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(1), the issuer shall disclose a detailed description of each 

such activity, including— 

‘‘(A) the nature and extent of the activity; 

‘‘(B) the gross revenues and net profits, if any, attributable to the activity; and 

‘‘(C) whether the issuer or the affiliate of the issuer 

(as the case may be) intends to continue the activity. 

‘‘(3) NOTICE OF DISCLOSURES.—If an issuer reports under 

paragraph (1) that the issuer or an affiliate of the issuer has 

knowingly engaged in any activity described in that paragraph, 

the issuer shall separately file with the Commission, concurrently with the annual or quarterly report under subsection 

(a), a notice that the disclosure of that activity has been 

included in that annual or quarterly report that identifies the 

issuer and contains the information required by paragraph 

(2). 

‘‘(4) PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.—Upon receiving 

a notice under paragraph (3) that an annual or quarterly report 

includes a disclosure of an activity described in paragraph 

(1), the Commission shall promptly— 

‘‘(A) transmit the report to— 

‘‘(i) the President; 

‘‘(ii) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the 

Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives; and 

‘‘(iii) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 

of the Senate; and 

‘‘(B) make the information provided in the disclosure 

and the notice available to the public by posting the 

information on the Internet website of the Commission. 

‘‘(5) INVESTIGATIONS.—Upon receiving a report under paragraph (4) that includes a disclosure of an activity described 

in paragraph (1) (other than an activity described in subparagraph (D)(iii) of that paragraph), the President shall— 

‘‘(A) initiate an investigation into the possible imposition of sanctions under the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 

(Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note), section 104 

or 105A of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, an Executive order 

specified in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (1)(D), or any 

other provision of law relating to the imposition of sanctions 

with respect to Iran, as applicable; and 

‘‘(B) not later than 180 days after initiating such an 

investigation, make a determination with respect to 

whether sanctions should be imposed with respect to the 

issuer or the affiliate of the issuer (as the case may be). 

‘‘(6) SUNSET.—The provisions of this subsection shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after the date on which 

the President makes the certification described in section 401(a) 

of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and 

Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8551(a)).’’. 

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by subsection (a) 

shall take effect with respect to reports required to be filed with 

the Securities and Exchange Commission after the date that is 

180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

15 USC 78m 

note. 

Deadline. 

Web posting. 


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PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 126 STAT. 1237 

SEC. 220. REPORTS ON, AND AUTHORIZATION OF IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO, THE PROVISION OF SPECIALIZED FINANCIAL MESSAGING SERVICES TO THE CENTRAL 

BANK OF IRAN AND OTHER SANCTIONED IRANIAN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. 

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 

(1) providers of specialized financial messaging services 

are a critical link to the international financial system; 

(2) the European Union is to be commended for strengthening the multilateral sanctions regime against Iran by 

deciding that specialized financial messaging services may not 

be provided to the Central Bank of Iran and other sanctioned 

Iranian financial institutions by persons subject to the jurisdiction of the European Union; and 

(3) the loss of access by sanctioned Iranian financial institutions to specialized financial messaging services must be maintained. 

(b) REPORTS REQUIRED.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, and every 90 days thereafter, 

the Secretary of the Treasury shall submit to the appropriate 

congressional committees a report that contains— 

(A) a list of all persons that the Secretary has identified 

that directly provide specialized financial messaging services to, or enable or facilitate direct or indirect access 

to such messaging services for, the Central Bank of Iran 

or a financial institution described in section 104(c)(2)(E)(ii) 

of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and 

Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513(c)(2)(E)(ii)); and 

(B) a detailed assessment of the status of efforts by 

the Secretary to end the direct provision of such messaging 

services to, and the enabling or facilitation of direct or 

indirect access to such messaging services for, the Central 

Bank of Iran or a financial institution described in that 

section. 

(2) ENABLING OR FACILITATION OF ACCESS TO SPECIALIZED

FINANCIAL MESSAGING SERVICES THROUGH INTERMEDIARY FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.—For purposes of paragraph (1) and subsection (c), enabling or facilitating direct or indirect access 

to specialized financial messaging services for the Central Bank 

of Iran or a financial institution described in section 

104(c)(2)(E)(ii) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513(c)(2)(E)(ii)) 

includes doing so by serving as an intermediary financial 

institution with access to such messaging services. 

(3) FORM OF REPORT.—A report submitted under paragraph 

(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain 

a classified annex. 

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (2), if, 

on or after the date that is 90 days after the date of the 

enactment of this Act, a person continues to knowingly and 

directly provide specialized financial messaging services to, or 

knowingly enable or facilitate direct or indirect access to such 

messaging services for, the Central Bank of Iran or a financial 

institution described in paragraph (2)(E)(ii) of section 104(c) 

of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and 

22 USC 8726. 


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Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513(c)), the President may 

impose sanctions pursuant to that section or the International 

Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) with 

respect to the person. 

(2) EXCEPTION.—The President may not impose sanctions 

pursuant to paragraph (1) with respect to a person for directly 

providing specialized financial messaging services to, or 

enabling or facilitating direct or indirect access to such messaging services for, the Central Bank of Iran or a financial 

institution described in section 104(c)(2)(E)(ii) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act 

of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513(c)(2)(E)(ii)) if— 

(A) the person is subject to a sanctions regime under 

its governing foreign law that requires it to eliminate the 

knowing provision of such messaging services to, and the 

knowing enabling and facilitation of direct or indirect 

access to such messaging services for— 

(i) the Central Bank of Iran; and 

(ii) a group of Iranian financial institutions identified under such governing foreign law for purposes 

of that sanctions regime if the President determines 

that— 

(I) the group is substantially similar to the 

group of financial institutions described in section 

104(c)(2)(E)(ii) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 

(22 U.S.C. 8513(c)(2)(E)(ii)); and 

(II) the differences between those groups of 

financial institutions do not adversely affect the 

national interest of the United States; and 

(B) the person has, pursuant to that sanctions regime, 

terminated the knowing provision of such messaging services to, and the knowing enabling and facilitation of direct 

or indirect access to such messaging services for, the Central Bank of Iran and each Iranian financial institution 

identified under such governing foreign law for purposes 

of that sanctions regime. 

(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

construed to limit the authority of the President pursuant to the 

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 

et seq.) or the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and 

Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.). 

SEC. 221. IDENTIFICATION OF, AND IMMIGRATION RESTRICTIONS ON, 

SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN AND 

THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. 

(a) IDENTIFICATION.—Not later than 180 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the President 

shall publish a list of each individual the President determines 

is— 

(1) a senior official of the Government of Iran described 

in subsection (b) that is involved in Iran’s— 

(A) illicit nuclear activities or proliferation of weapons 

of mass destruction or delivery systems for weapons of 

mass destruction; 

(B) support for international terrorism; or 

Deadline. 

Publication. 

Lists. 

22 USC 8727. 


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(C) commission of serious human rights abuses against 

citizens of Iran or their family members; or 

(2) a family member of such an official. 

(b) SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN

DESCRIBED.—A senior official of the Government of Iran described 

in this subsection is any senior official of that Government, 

including— 

(1) the Supreme Leader of Iran; 

(2) the President of Iran; 

(3) a member of the Cabinet of the Government of Iran; 

(4) a member of the Assembly of Experts; 

(5) a senior member of the Intelligence Ministry of Iran; 

or 

(6) a senior member of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, 

including a senior member of a paramilitary organization such 

as Ansar-e-Hezbollah or Basij-e Motaz’afin. 

(c) EXCLUSION FROM UNITED STATES.—Except as provided in 

subsection (d), the Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and 

the Secretary of Homeland Security shall exclude from the United 

States, any alien who is on the list required by subsection (a). 

(d) EXCEPTION TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS AGREEMENT.—Subsection (c) shall not apply to an individual if admitting the individual to the United States is necessary 

to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement between 

the United Nations and the United States of America regarding 

the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed June 26, 1947, 

and entered into force November 21, 1947, and other applicable 

international obligations. 

(e) WAIVER.—The President may waive the application of subsection (a) or (c) with respect to an individual if the President— 

(1) determines that such a waiver is essential to the 

national interests of the United States; and 

(2) not less than 7 days before the waiver takes effect, 

notifies Congress of the waiver and the reason for the waiver. 

SEC. 222. SENSE OF CONGRESS AND RULE OF CONSTRUCTION 

RELATING TO CERTAIN AUTHORITIES OF STATE AND 

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. 

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 

the United States should support actions by States or local governments that are within their authority, including determining how 

investment assets are valued for purposes of safety and soundness 

of financial institutions and insurers, that are consistent with and 

in furtherance of the purposes of this Act and other Acts that 

are amended by this Act. 

(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Section 202 of the Comprehensive 

Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 

U.S.C. 8532) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(j) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act or any other 

provision of law authorizing sanctions with respect to Iran shall 

be construed to abridge the authority of a State to issue and 

enforce rules governing the safety, soundness, and solvency of a 

financial institution subject to its jurisdiction or the business of 

insurance pursuant to the Act of March 9, 1945 (15 U.S.C. 1011 

et seq.) (commonly known as the ‘McCarran-Ferguson Act’).’’. 

Deadline. 

Notification. 


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SEC. 223. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT ON FOREIGN ENTITIES THAT INVEST IN THE ENERGY SECTOR OF 

IRAN OR EXPORT REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS TO 

IRAN. 

(a) INITIAL REPORT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the 

United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

committees a report— 

(A) listing all foreign investors in the energy sector 

of Iran during the period specified in paragraph (2), 

including— 

(i) entities that exported gasoline and other refined 

petroleum products to Iran; 

(ii) entities involved in providing refined petroleum 

products to Iran, including— 

(I) entities that provided ships to transport 

refined petroleum products to Iran; and 

(II) entities that provided insurance or reinsurance for shipments of refined petroleum products 

to Iran; and 

(iii) entities involved in commercial transactions 

of any kind, including joint ventures anywhere in the 

world, with Iranian energy companies; and 

(B) identifying the countries in which gasoline and 

other refined petroleum products exported to Iran during 

the period specified in paragraph (2) were produced or 

refined. 

(2) PERIOD SPECIFIED.—The period specified in this paragraph is the period beginning on January 1, 2009, and ending 

on the date that is 150 days after the date of the enactment 

of this Act. 

(b) UPDATED REPORT.—Not later than one year after submitting 

the report required by subsection (a), the Comptroller General 

of the United States shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

committees a report containing the matters required in the report 

under subsection (a)(1) for the one-year period beginning on the 

date that is 30 days before the date on which the preceding report 

was required to be submitted by this section. 

SEC. 224. REPORTING ON THE IMPORTATION TO AND EXPORTATION 

FROM IRAN OF CRUDE OIL AND REFINED PETROLEUM 

PRODUCTS. 

Section 110(b) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8518(b)) is amended 

by striking ‘‘a report containing the matters’’ and all that follows 

through the period at the end and inserting the following: ‘‘a report, 

covering the 180-day period beginning on the date that is 30 days 

before the date on which the preceding report was required to 

be submitted by this section, that— 

‘‘(1) contains the matters required in the report under 

subsection (a)(1); and 

‘‘(2) identifies— 

‘‘(A) the volume of crude oil and refined petroleum 

products imported to and exported from Iran (including 

through swaps and similar arrangements); 

Time period. 


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‘‘(B) the persons selling and transporting crude oil 

and refined petroleum products described in subparagraph 

(A), the countries with primary jurisdiction over those persons, and the countries in which those products were 

refined; 

‘‘(C) the sources of financing for imports to Iran of 

crude oil and refined petroleum products described in 

subparagraph (A); and 

‘‘(D) the involvement of foreign persons in efforts to 

assist Iran in— 

‘‘(i) developing upstream oil and gas production 

capacity; 

‘‘(ii) importing advanced technology to upgrade 

existing Iranian refineries; 

‘‘(iii) converting existing chemical plants to petroleum refineries; or 

‘‘(iv) maintaining, upgrading, or expanding existing 

refineries or constructing new refineries.’’. 

TITLE III—SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT 

TO IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD 

CORPS 

Subtitle A—Identification of, and Sanctions With Respect to, Officials, Agents, 

Affiliates, and Supporters of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and Other Sanctioned Persons 

SEC. 301. IDENTIFICATION OF, AND IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH 

RESPECT TO, OFFICIALS, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES OF 

IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date of 

the enactment of this Act, and as appropriate thereafter, the President shall— 

(1) identify foreign persons that are officials, agents, or 

affiliates of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps; and 

(2) for each foreign person identified under paragraph (1) 

that is not already designated for the imposition of sanctions 

pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 

(50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)— 

(A) designate that foreign person for the imposition 

of sanctions pursuant to that Act; and 

(B) block and prohibit all transactions in all property 

and interests in property of that foreign person if such 

property and interests in property are in the United States, 

come within the United States, or are or come within 

the possession or control of a United States person. 

(b) PRIORITY FOR INVESTIGATION.—In identifying foreign persons pursuant to subsection (a)(1) as officials, agents, or affiliates 

of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the President shall give priority to investigating— 

Deadline. 

22 USC 8741. 

President. 

Determinations. 


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(1) foreign persons or entities identified under section 

560.304 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to 

the definition of the Government of Iran); and 

(2) foreign persons for which there is a reasonable basis 

to find that the person has conducted or attempted to conduct 

one or more sensitive transactions or activities described in 

subsection (c). 

(c) SENSITIVE TRANSACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.—A 

sensitive transaction or activity described in this subsection is— 

(1) a financial transaction or series of transactions valued 

at more than $1,000,000 in the aggregate in any 12-month 

period involving a non-Iranian financial institution; 

(2) a transaction to facilitate the manufacture, importation, 

exportation, or transfer of items needed for the development 

by Iran of nuclear, chemical, biological, or advanced conventional weapons, including ballistic missiles; 

(3) a transaction relating to the manufacture, procurement, 

or sale of goods, services, and technology relating to Iran’s 

energy sector, including a transaction relating to the development of the energy resources of Iran, the exportation of petroleum products from Iran, the importation of refined petroleum 

to Iran, or the development of refining capacity available to 

Iran; 

(4) a transaction relating to the manufacture, procurement, 

or sale of goods, services, and technology relating to Iran’s 

petrochemical sector; or 

(5) a transaction relating to the procurement of sensitive 

technologies (as defined in section 106(c) of the Comprehensive 

Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 

(22 U.S.C. 8515(c))). 

(d) EXCLUSION FROM UNITED STATES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 

of State shall deny a visa to, and the Secretary of Homeland 

Security shall exclude from the United States, any alien who, 

on or after the date of the enactment of this Act, is a foreign 

person designated pursuant to subsection (a) for the imposition 

of sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 

Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 

(2) REGULATORY EXCEPTIONS TO COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS.—The requirement to deny visas to and 

exclude aliens from the United States pursuant to paragraph 

(1) shall be subject to such regulations as the President may 

prescribe, including regulatory exceptions to permit the United 

States to comply with the Agreement between the United 

Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed June 26, 1947, and 

entered into force November 21, 1947, and other applicable 

international obligations. 

(e) WAIVER OF IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The President may waive the application 

of subsection (a) or (d) with respect to a foreign person if 

the President— 

(A) determines that it is vital to the national security 

interests of the United States to do so; and 

(B) submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report that— 

Reports. 


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(i) identifies the foreign person with respect to 

which the waiver applies; and 

(ii) sets forth the reasons for the determination. 

(2) FORM OF REPORT.—A report submitted under paragraph 

(1)(B) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain 

a classified annex. 

(f) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall be 

construed to remove any sanction of the United States in force 

with respect to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as of the date 

of the enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 302. IDENTIFICATION OF, AND IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH 

RESPECT TO, PERSONS THAT SUPPORT OR CONDUCT CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS WITH IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY 

GUARD CORPS OR OTHER SANCTIONED PERSONS. 

(a) IDENTIFICATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, 

the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

committees a report identifying foreign persons that the President determines, on or after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, knowingly— 

(A) materially assist, sponsor, or provide financial, 

material, or technological support for, or goods or services 

in support of, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps or any 

of its officials, agents, or affiliates the property and 

interests in property of which are blocked pursuant to 

the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 

U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); 

(B) engage in a significant transaction or transactions 

with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps or any of its officials, agents, or affiliates— 

(i) the property and interests in property of which 

are blocked pursuant to that Act; or 

(ii) that are identified under section 301(a)(1) or 

pursuant to paragraph (4)(A) of section 104(c) of the 

Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and 

Divestment Act of 2010, as added by section 312; or 

(C) engage in a significant transaction or transactions 

with— 

(i) a person subject to financial sanctions pursuant 

to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737 

(2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008), or 1929 (2010), or 

any other resolution that is adopted by the Security 

Council and imposes sanctions with respect to Iran 

or modifies such sanctions; or 

(ii) a person acting on behalf of or at the direction 

of, or owned or controlled by, a person described in 

clause (i). 

(2) FORM OF REPORT.—A report submitted under paragraph 

(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain 

a classified annex. 

(3) BARTER TRANSACTIONS.—For purposes of paragraph (1), 

the term ‘‘transaction’’ includes a barter transaction. 

(b) IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.—If the President determines 

under subsection (a)(1) that a foreign person has knowingly engaged 

in an activity described in that subsection, the President— 

Deadlines. 

22 USC 8742. 


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(1) shall impose 5 or more of the sanctions described in 

section 6(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, as amended 

by section 204; and 

(2) may impose additional sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 

seq.) with respect to the person. 

(c) TERMINATION.—The President may terminate a sanction 

imposed with respect to a foreign person pursuant to subsection 

(b) if the President determines that the person— 

(1) no longer engages in the activity for which the sanction 

was imposed; and 

(2) has provided assurances to the President that the person will not engage in any activity described in subsection 

(a)(1) in the future. 

(d) WAIVER OF IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The President may waive the imposition 

of sanctions under subsection (b) with respect to a foreign 

person if the President— 

(A)(i) determines that the person has ceased the 

activity for which sanctions would otherwise be imposed 

and has taken measures to prevent a recurrence of the 

activity; or 

(ii) determines that it is essential to the national security interests of the United States to do so; and 

(B) submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report that— 

(i) identifies the foreign person with respect to 

which the waiver applies; 

(ii) describes the activity that would otherwise subject the foreign person to the imposition of sanctions 

under subsection (b); and 

(iii) sets forth the reasons for the determination. 

(2) FORM OF REPORT.—A report submitted under paragraph 

(1)(B) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain 

a classified annex. 

(e) WAIVER OF IDENTIFICATIONS AND DESIGNATIONS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of this subtitle and subject to paragraph (2), the President shall not be required to make any identification of a foreign person under subsection (a) or any identification 

or designation of a foreign person under section 301(a) if the President— 

(1) determines that doing so would cause damage to the 

national security of the United States; and 

(2) notifies the appropriate congressional committees of 

the exercise of the authority provided under this subsection. 

(f) APPLICATION OF PROVISIONS OF IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF

1996.—The following provisions of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, 

as amended by this Act, apply with respect to the imposition under 

subsection (b)(1) of sanctions relating to activities described in 

subsection (a)(1) to the same extent that such provisions apply 

with respect to the imposition of sanctions under section 5(a) of 

the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996: 

(1) Subsections (c) and (e) of section 4. 

(2) Subsections (c), (d), and (f) of section 5. 

(3) Section 8. 

(4) Section 9. 

(5) Section 11. 

Notification. 

Reports. 


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(6) Section 12. 

(7) Subsection (b) of section 13. 

(8) Section 14. 

SEC. 303. IDENTIFICATION OF, AND IMPOSITION OF MEASURES WITH 

RESPECT TO, FOREIGN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CARRYING OUT ACTIVITIES OR TRANSACTIONS WITH CERTAIN 

IRAN-AFFILIATED PERSONS. 

(a) IDENTIFICATION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, 

the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

committees a report that identifies each agency of the government of a foreign country (other than Iran) that the President 

determines knowingly and materially assisted, sponsored, or 

provided financial, material, or technological support for, or 

goods or services in support of, or knowingly and materially 

engaged in a significant transaction with, any person described 

in paragraph (2). 

(2) PERSON DESCRIBED.—A person described in this paragraph is— 

(A) a foreign person that is an official, agent, or affiliate 

of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps that is designated 

for the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 

et seq.); 

(B) a foreign person that is designated and subject 

to financial sanctions pursuant to— 

(i) the Annex of United Nations Security Council 

Resolution 1737 (2006); 

(ii) Annex I of United Nations Security Council 

Resolution 1747 (2007); 

(iii) Annex I, II, or III of United Nations Security 

Council Resolution 1803 (2008); 

(iv) Annex I, II, or III of United Nations Security 

Council Resolution 1929 (2010); or 

(v) any subsequent and related United Nations 

Security Council resolution, or any annex thereto, that 

imposes new sanctions with respect to Iran or modifies 

existing sanctions with respect to Iran; or 

(C) a foreign person that the agency knows is acting 

on behalf of or at the direction of, or owned or controlled 

by, a person described in subparagraph (A) or (B). 

(3) FORM OF REPORT.—Each report submitted under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may 

contain a classified annex. 

(b) IMPOSITION OF MEASURES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—The President may impose any of the 

following measures with respect to an agency identified pursuant to subsection (a) if the President determines that the assistance, exports, or other support to be prohibited by reason 

of the imposition of the measures have contributed and would 

otherwise directly or indirectly contribute to the agency’s capability to continue the activities or transactions for which the 

agency has been identified pursuant to subsection (a): 

(A) No assistance may be provided to the agency under 

the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et 

Deadlines. 

Reports. 

22 USC 8743. 


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seq.) or the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 

et seq.) other than humanitarian assistance or the provision 

of food or other agricultural commodities. 

(B) No sales of any defense articles, defense services, 

or design and construction services under the Arms Export 

Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) may be made to the 

agency. 

(C) No licenses for export of any item on the United 

States Munitions List that include the agency as a party 

to the license may be granted. 

(D) No exports may be permitted to the agency of 

any goods or technologies controlled for national security 

reasons under the Export Administration Regulations, 

except that such prohibition shall not apply to any transaction subject to the reporting requirements of title V of 

the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 413 et seq.; 

relating to congressional oversight of intelligence activities). 

(E) The United States shall oppose any loan or financial or technical assistance to the agency by international 

financial institutions in accordance with section 701 of 

the International Financial Institutions Act (22 U.S.C. 

262d). 

(F) The United States shall deny to the agency any 

credit or financial assistance by any department, agency, 

or instrumentality of the United States Government, except 

that this paragraph shall not apply— 

(i) to any transaction subject to the reporting 

requirements of title V of the National Security Act 

of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 413 et seq.; relating to congressional 

oversight of intelligence activities); 

(ii) to the provision of medicines, medical equipment, and humanitarian assistance; or 

(iii) to any credit, credit guarantee, or financial 

assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture 

to support the purchase of food or other agricultural 

commodities. 

(G) Additional restrictions as may be imposed pursuant 

to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 

U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 

(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this subsection 

shall be construed to impose measures with respect to programs 

under section 1501 of the National Defense Authorization Act 

for Fiscal Year 1997 (50 U.S.C. 2632 note) and programs under 

the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.). 

(c) TERMINATION.—The President may terminate any measures 

imposed with respect to an agency pursuant to subsection (b) if 

the President determines and notifies the appropriate congressional 

committees that— 

(1)(A) a person described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of 

subsection (a)(2) with respect to which the agency is carrying 

out activities or transactions is no longer designated pursuant 

to subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(2); or 

(B) any person described in subparagraph (C) of subsection 

(a)(2) with respect to which the agency is carrying out activities 

or transactions is no longer acting on behalf of or at the direction of, or owned or controlled by, any person described in 

subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(2); 

Notification. 


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(2) the agency is no longer carrying out activities or transactions for which the measures were imposed and has provided 

assurances to the United States Government that the agency 

will not carry out the activities or transactions in the future; 

or 

(3) it is essential to the national security interest of the 

United States to terminate such measures. 

(d) WAIVER.—If the President does not impose one or more 

measures described in subsection (b) with respect to an agency 

identified in the report required by subsection (a), the President 

shall include in the subsequent report an explanation as to why 

the President did not impose such measures. 

(e) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘‘appropriate congressional committees’’ means— 

(1) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee 

on Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, the Committee 

on Finance, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the 

Senate; and 

(2) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 

Appropriations, the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Financial Services, the Committee on Ways and 

Means, and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence 

of the House of Representatives. 

(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect on the date 

of the enactment of this Act and apply with respect to activities 

and transactions described in subsection (a) that are carried out 

on or after the later of— 

(1) the date that is 45 days after such date of enactment; 

or 

(2) the date that is 45 days after a person is designated 

as described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(2). 

SEC. 304. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to limit the authority 

of the President to designate foreign persons for the imposition 

of sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic 

Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.). 

Subtitle B—Additional Measures Relating 

to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps 

SEC. 311. EXPANSION OF PROCUREMENT PROHIBITION TO FOREIGN 

PERSONS THAT ENGAGE IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS WITH 

IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 6(b)(1) of the Iran Sanctions Act 

of 1996 (Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘Not later than 90 days’’ and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘(A) CERTIFICATIONS RELATING TO ACTIVITIES

DESCRIBED IN SECTION 5.—Not later than 90 days’’; and 

(2) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(B) CERTIFICATIONS RELATING TO TRANSACTIONS WITH

IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS.—Not later than 120 

days after the date of the enactment of the Iran Threat 

Deadline. 

22 USC 8744. 

Applicability. 


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Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, the Federal Acquisition Regulation shall be revised to require a 

certification from each person that is a prospective contractor that the person, and any person owned or controlled 

by the person, does not knowingly engage in a significant 

transaction or transactions with Iran’s Revolutionary 

Guard Corps or any of its officials, agents, or affiliates 

the property and interests in property of which are blocked 

pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers 

Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).’’. 

(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— (1) Section 6(b) of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, as 

amended by subsection (a), is further amended— 

(A) in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (1), as designated 

by subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘issued pursuant to section 

25 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act (41 

U.S.C. 421)’’; 

(B) in paragraph (2)— 

(i) in subparagraph (A)— 

(I) by striking ‘‘the revision’’ and inserting ‘‘the 

applicable revision’’; and 

(II) by striking ‘‘not more than 3 years’’ and 

inserting ‘‘not less than 2 years’’; and 

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘issued pursuant to section 25 of the Office of Federal Procurement 

Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 421)’’; 

(C) in paragraph (5), by striking ‘‘in the national 

interest’’ and inserting ‘‘essential to the national security 

interests’’; 

(D) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following: 

‘‘(6) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

‘‘(A) EXECUTIVE AGENCY.—The term ‘executive agency’ 

has the meaning given that term in section 133 of title 

41, United States Code. 

‘‘(B) FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION.—The term 

‘Federal Acquisition Regulation’ means the regulation 

issued pursuant to section 1303(a)(1) of title 41, United 

States Code.’’; and 

(E) in paragraph (7)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘The revisions to the Federal 

Acquisition Regulation required under paragraph (1)’’ 

and inserting the following: 

‘‘(A) CERTIFICATIONS RELATING TO ACTIVITIES

DESCRIBED IN SECTION 5.—The revisions to the Federal 

Acquisition Regulation required under paragraph (1)(A)’’; 

and 

(ii) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(B) CERTIFICATIONS RELATING TO TRANSACTIONS WITH

IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS.—The revisions to the 

Federal Acquisition Regulation required under paragraph 

(1)(B) shall apply with respect to contracts for which solicitations are issued on or after the date that is 120 days 

after the date of the enactment of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012.’’. 

(2) Section 101(3) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, 

Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8511(3)) 

Applicability. 

Effective date. 


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is amended by striking ‘‘section 4 of the Office of Federal 

Procurement Policy Act (41 U.S.C. 403)’’ and inserting ‘‘section 

133 of title 41, United States Code’’. 

SEC. 312. DETERMINATIONS OF WHETHER THE NATIONAL IRANIAN 

OIL COMPANY AND THE NATIONAL IRANIAN TANKER COMPANY ARE AGENTS OR AFFILIATES OF IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS. 

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 

the National Iranian Oil Company and the National Iranian Tanker 

Company are not only owned and controlled by the Government 

of Iran but that those companies provide significant support to 

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and its affiliates. 

(b) DETERMINATIONS.—Section 104(c) of the Comprehensive 

Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 

U.S.C. 8513(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(4) DETERMINATIONS REGARDING NIOC AND NITC.— 

‘‘(A) DETERMINATIONS.—For purposes of paragraph 

(2)(E), the Secretary of the Treasury shall, not later than 

45 days after the date of the enactment of the Iran Threat 

Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012— 

‘‘(i) determine whether the NIOC or the NITC 

is an agent or affiliate of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard 

Corps; and 

‘‘(ii) submit to the appropriate congressional 

committees a report on the determinations made under 

clause (i), together with the reasons for those determinations. 

‘‘(B) FORM OF REPORT.—A report submitted under 

subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be submitted in unclassified form 

but may contain a classified annex. 

‘‘(C) APPLICABILITY WITH RESPECT TO PETROLEUM

TRANSACTIONS.— 

‘‘(i) APPLICATION OF SANCTIONS.—Except as provided in clause (ii), if the Secretary of the Treasury 

determines that the NIOC or the NITC is a person 

described in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (2)(E), the 

regulations prescribed under paragraph (1) shall apply 

with respect to a significant transaction or transactions 

or significant financial services knowingly facilitated 

or provided by a foreign financial institution for the 

NIOC or the NITC, as applicable, for the purchase 

of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran, only 

if a determination of the President under section 

1245(d)(4)(B) of the National Defense Authorization 

Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8513a(d)(4)(B)) 

that there is a sufficient supply of petroleum and petroleum products produced in countries other than Iran 

to permit purchasers of petroleum and petroleum products from Iran to reduce significantly their purchases 

from Iran is in effect at the time of the transaction 

or the provision of the service. 

‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN COUNTRIES.—If the 

Secretary of the Treasury determines that the NIOC 

or the NITC is a person described in clause (i) or 

(ii) of paragraph (2)(E), the regulations prescribed 

under paragraph (1) shall not apply to a significant 

Deadline. 


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transaction or transactions or significant financial services knowingly facilitated or provided by a foreign 

financial institution for the NIOC or the NITC, as 

applicable, for the purchase of petroleum or petroleum 

products from Iran if an exception under paragraph 

(4)(D) of section 1245(d) of the National Defense 

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (22 U.S.C. 

8513a(d)) applies to the country with primary jurisdiction over the foreign financial institution at the time 

of the transaction or the provision of the service. 

‘‘(iii) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—The exceptions in 

clauses (i) and (ii) shall not be construed to limit the 

authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to impose 

sanctions pursuant to the regulations prescribed under 

paragraph (1) for an activity described in paragraph 

(2) to the extent the activity would meet the criteria 

described in that paragraph in the absence of the 

involvement of the NIOC or the NITC. 

‘‘(D) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: 

‘‘(i) NIOC.—The term ‘NIOC’ means the National 

Iranian Oil Company. 

‘‘(ii) NITC.—The term ‘NITC’ means the National 

Iranian Tanker Company.’’. 

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

(1) WAIVER.—Section 104(f) of the Comprehensive Iran 

Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 

U.S.C. 8513(f)) is amended by inserting ‘‘or section 104A’’ after 

‘‘subsection (c)’’. 

(2) CLASSIFIED INFORMATION.—Section 104(g) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act 

of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8513(g)) is amended by striking ‘‘subsection 

(c)(1)’’ and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1) or (4) of subsection (c) 

or section 104A’’ both places it appears. 

(d) APPLICABILITY.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—If an exception to sanctions described 

in clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (4)(C) of section 104(c) of 

the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, as added by subsection (b), applies to a 

person that engages in a transaction described in paragraph 

(2) at the time of the transaction, the President is authorized 

not to impose sanctions with respect to the transaction under— 

(A) section 302(b)(1); 

(B) section 104A of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, 

Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, as added by 

section 216; or 

(C) any other applicable provision of law authorizing 

the imposition of sanctions with respect to Iran. 

(2) TRANSACTION DESCRIBED.—A transaction described in 

this paragraph is a transaction— 

(A) solely for the purchase of petroleum or petroleum 

products from Iran; and 

(B) for which sanctions may be imposed solely as a 

result of the involvement of the National Iranian Oil Company or the National Iranian Tanker Company in the transaction under— 

(i) section 302(b)(1); 

22 USC 8513 

note. 


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(ii) section 104A of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, as 

added by section 216; or 

(iii) any other applicable provision of law authorizing the imposition of sanctions with respect to Iran. 

TITLE IV—MEASURES RELATING TO 

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN IRAN 

Subtitle A—Expansion of Sanctions 

Relating to Human Rights Abuses in Iran 

SEC. 401. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS ON CERTAIN PERSONS RESPONSIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT IN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES 

COMMITTED AGAINST CITIZENS OF IRAN OR THEIR 

FAMILY MEMBERS AFTER THE JUNE 12, 2009, ELECTIONS 

IN IRAN. 

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that 

the Supreme Leader of Iran, the President of Iran, senior members 

of the Intelligence Ministry of Iran, senior members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, Ansar-e-Hezbollah and Basij-e-Mostaz’afin, 

and the Ministers of Defense, Interior, Justice, and Telecommunications are ultimately responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing a pattern and practice of serious human rights abuses 

against the Iranian people, and thus the President should include 

such persons on the list of persons who are responsible for or 

complicit in committing serious human rights abuses and subject 

to sanctions pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Iran 

Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 

8514). 

(b) REPORT.— (1) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than 180 days after the 

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall 

submit to the appropriate congressional committees a detailed 

report with respect to whether each person described in subsection (a) is responsible for or complicit in, or responsible 

for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing the commission 

of serious human rights abuses against citizens of Iran or 

their family members on or after June 12, 2009, regardless 

of whether such abuses occurred in Iran. For any such person 

who is not included in such report, the Secretary of State 

should describe in the report the reasons why the person was 

not included, including information on whether sufficient credible evidence of responsibility for such abuses was found. 

(2) FORM.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall be 

submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified 

annex. 

(3) DEFINITION.—In this subsection, the term ‘‘appropriate 

congressional committees’’ means— 

(A) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the 

Senate; and 

(B) the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives. 


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SEC. 402. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE 

TRANSFER OF GOODS OR TECHNOLOGIES TO IRAN THAT 

ARE LIKELY TO BE USED TO COMMIT HUMAN RIGHTS 

ABUSES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) is 

amended by inserting after section 105 the following: 

‘‘SEC. 105A. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE 

TRANSFER OF GOODS OR TECHNOLOGIES TO IRAN THAT 

ARE LIKELY TO BE USED TO COMMIT HUMAN RIGHTS 

ABUSES. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose sanctions in 

accordance with subsection (c) with respect to each person on the 

list required by subsection (b). 

‘‘(b) LIST.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

of the enactment of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria 

Human Rights Act of 2012, the President shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees a list of persons that 

the President determines have knowingly engaged in an activity 

described in paragraph (2) on or after such date of enactment. 

‘‘(2) ACTIVITY DESCRIBED.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—A person engages in an activity 

described in this paragraph if the person— 

‘‘(i) transfers, or facilitates the transfer of, goods 

or technologies described in subparagraph (C) to Iran, 

any entity organized under the laws of Iran or otherwise subject to the jurisdiction of the Government of 

Iran, or any national of Iran, for use in or with respect 

to Iran; or 

‘‘(ii) provides services (including services relating 

to hardware, software, and specialized information, and 

professional consulting, engineering, and support services) with respect to goods or technologies described 

in subparagraph (C) after such goods or technologies 

are transferred to Iran. 

‘‘(B) APPLICABILITY TO CONTRACTS AND OTHER AGREEMENTS.—A person engages in an activity described in 

subparagraph (A) without regard to whether the activity 

is carried out pursuant to a contract or other agreement 

entered into before, on, or after the date of the enactment 

of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights 

Act of 2012. 

‘‘(C) GOODS OR TECHNOLOGIES DESCRIBED.—Goods or 

technologies described in this subparagraph are goods or 

technologies that the President determines are likely to 

be used by the Government of Iran or any of its agencies 

or instrumentalities (or by any other person on behalf 

of the Government of Iran or any of such agencies or 

instrumentalities) to commit serious human rights abuses 

against the people of Iran, including— 

‘‘(i) firearms or ammunition (as those terms are 

defined in section 921 of title 18, United States Code), 

rubber bullets, police batons, pepper or chemical 

sprays, stun grenades, electroshock weapons, tear gas, 

water cannons, or surveillance technology; or 

22 USC 8514a. 

President. 


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‘‘(ii) sensitive technology (as defined in section 

106(c)). 

‘‘(3) SPECIAL RULE TO ALLOW FOR TERMINATION OF

SANCTIONABLE ACTIVITY.—The President shall not be required 

to include a person on the list required by paragraph (1) if 

the President certifies in writing to the appropriate congressional committees that— 

‘‘(A) the person is no longer engaging in, or has taken 

significant verifiable steps toward stopping, the activity 

described in paragraph (2) for which the President would 

otherwise have included the person on the list; and 

‘‘(B) the President has received reliable assurances that 

the person will not knowingly engage in any activity 

described in paragraph (2) in the future. 

‘‘(4) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees an updated list under 

paragraph (1)— 

‘‘(A) each time the President is required to submit 

an updated list to those committees under section 

105(b)(2)(A); and 

‘‘(B) as new information becomes available. 

‘‘(5) FORM OF REPORT; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— 

‘‘(A) FORM.—The list required by paragraph (1) shall 

be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. 

‘‘(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The unclassified portion of 

the list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available 

to the public and posted on the websites of the Department 

of the Treasury and the Department of State. 

‘‘(c) APPLICATION OF SANCTIONS.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), the President 

shall impose sanctions described in section 105(c) with respect 

to a person on the list required by subsection (b). 

‘‘(2) TRANSFERS TO IRAN’S REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS.— 

In the case of a person on the list required by subsection 

(b) for transferring, or facilitating the transfer of, goods or 

technologies described in subsection (b)(2)(C) to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, or providing services with respect to 

such goods or technologies after such goods or technologies 

are transferred to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the President shall— 

‘‘(A) impose sanctions described in section 105(c) with 

respect to the person; and 

‘‘(B) impose such other sanctions from among the sanctions described in section 6(a) of the Iran Sanctions Act 

of 1996 (Public Law 104–172; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note) as 

the President determines appropriate.’’. 

(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents for the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 


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2010 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 

105 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 105A. Imposition of sanctions with respect to the transfer of goods or technologies to Iran that are likely to be used to commit human rights 

abuses.’’. 

SEC. 403. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS 

WHO ENGAGE IN CENSORSHIP OR OTHER RELATED 

ACTIVITIES AGAINST CITIZENS OF IRAN. 

(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that— 

(1) satellite service providers and other entities that have 

direct contractual arrangements to provide satellite services 

to the Government of Iran or entities owned or controlled 

by that Government should cease providing broadcast services 

to that Government and those entities unless that Government 

ceases activities intended to jam or restrict satellite signals; 

and 

(2) the United States should address the illegal jamming 

of satellite signals by the Government of Iran through the 

voice and vote of the United States in the United Nations 

International Telecommunications Union. 

(b) IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS.—The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8501 

et seq.), as amended by section 402, is further amended by inserting 

after section 105A the following: 

‘‘SEC. 105B. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS 

WHO ENGAGE IN CENSORSHIP OR OTHER RELATED 

ACTIVITIES AGAINST CITIZENS OF IRAN. 

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose sanctions 

described in section 105(c) with respect to each person on the 

list required by subsection (b). 

‘‘(b) LIST OF PERSONS WHO ENGAGE IN CENSORSHIP.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after the date 

of the enactment of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria 

Human Rights Act of 2012, the President shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees a list of persons that 

the President determines have, on or after June 12, 2009, 

engaged in censorship or other activities with respect to Iran 

that— 

‘‘(A) prohibit, limit, or penalize the exercise of freedom 

of expression or assembly by citizens of Iran; or 

‘‘(B) limit access to print or broadcast media, including 

the facilitation or support of intentional frequency manipulation by the Government of Iran or an entity owned or 

controlled by that Government that would jam or restrict 

an international signal. 

‘‘(2) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees an updated list under 

paragraph (1)— 

‘‘(A) each time the President is required to submit 

an updated list to those committees under section 

105(b)(2)(A); and 

‘‘(B) as new information becomes available. 

‘‘(3) FORM OF REPORT; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— 

Deadline. 

Determination. 

22 USC 8514b. 

President. 


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‘‘(A) FORM.—The list required by paragraph (1) shall 

be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. 

‘‘(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The unclassified portion of 

the list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available 

to the public and posted on the websites of the Department 

of the Treasury and the Department of State.’’. 

(c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents for the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 

2010, as amended by section 402, is further amended by inserting 

after the item relating to section 105A the following: 

‘‘Sec. 105B. Imposition of sanctions with respect to persons who engage in censorship or other related activities against citizens of Iran.’’. 

(d) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 401(b)(1) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 

2010 (22 U.S.C. 8551(b)(1)) is amended— 

(1) by inserting ‘‘, 105A(a), or 105B(a)’’ after ‘‘105(a)’’; and 

(2) by inserting ‘‘, 105A(b), or 105B(b)’’ after ‘‘105(b)’’. 

Subtitle B—Additional Measures to 

Promote Human Rights 

SEC. 411. CODIFICATION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO GRAVE 

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF IRAN 

AND SYRIA USING INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY. 

United States sanctions with respect to Iran and Syria provided 

for in Executive Order No. 13606 (77 Fed. Reg. 24571), as in 

effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, 

shall remain in effect— 

(1) with respect to Iran, until the date that is 30 days 

after the date on which the President submits to Congress 

the certification described in section 401(a) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 

(22 U.S.C. 8551(a)); and 

(2) with respect to Syria, until the date on which the 

provisions of and sanctions imposed pursuant to title VII terminate pursuant to section 706. 

SEC. 412. CLARIFICATION OF SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR PURPOSES OF PROCUREMENT BAN UNDER COMPREHENSIVE 

IRAN SANCTIONS, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND DIVESTMENT 

ACT OF 2010. 

The Secretary of State shall— 

(1) not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 

of this Act, issue guidelines to further describe the technologies 

that may be considered ‘‘sensitive technology’’ for purposes of 

section 106 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8515), with 

special attention to new forms of sophisticated jamming, monitoring, and surveillance technology relating to mobile telecommunications and the Internet, and publish those guidelines 

in the Federal Register; 

(2) determine the types of technologies that enable any 

indigenous capabilities that Iran has to disrupt and monitor 

Determination. 

Deadline. 

Guidelines. 

Federal Register, 

publication. 

22 USC 8752. 

President. 

Certification. 

Deadlines. 

22 USC 8751. 

Web posting. 


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126 STAT. 1256 PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 

information and communications in that country, and consider 

adding descriptions of those items to the guidelines; and 

(3) periodically review, but in no case less than once each 

year, the guidelines and, if necessary, amend the guidelines 

on the basis of technological developments and new information 

regarding transfers of technologies to Iran and the development 

of Iran’s indigenous capabilities to disrupt and monitor information and communications in Iran. 

SEC. 413. EXPEDITED CONSIDERATION OF REQUESTS FOR AUTHORIZATION OF CERTAIN HUMAN RIGHTS-, HUMANITARIAN-, AND 

DEMOCRACY-RELATED ACTIVITIES WITH RESPECT TO 

IRAN. 

(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Office of Foreign Assets Control, in 

consultation with the Department of State, shall establish an expedited process for the consideration of complete requests for 

authorization to engage in human rights-, humanitarian-, or democracy-related activities relating to Iran that are submitted by— 

(1) entities receiving funds from the Department of State 

to engage in the proposed activity; 

(2) the Broadcasting Board of Governors; and 

(3) other appropriate agencies of the United States Government. 

(b) PROCEDURES.—Requests for authorization under subsection 

(a) shall be submitted to the Office of Foreign Assets Control 

in conformance with the Office’s regulations, including section 

501.801 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly known 

as the Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations). Applicants 

shall fully disclose the parties to the transactions as well as describe 

the activities to be undertaken. License applications involving the 

exportation or reexportation of goods, technology, or software to 

Iran shall include a copy of an official Commodity Classification 

issued by the Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and 

Security, as part of the license application. 

(c) FOREIGN POLICY REVIEW.—The Department of State shall 

complete a foreign policy review of a request for authorization 

under subsection (a) not later than 30 days after the request is 

referred to the Department by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. 

(d) LICENSE DETERMINATIONS.—License determinations for complete requests for authorization under subsection (a) shall be made 

not later than 90 days after receipt by the Office of Foreign Assets 

Control, with the following exceptions: 

(1) Any requests involving the exportation or reexportation 

to Iran of goods, technology, or software listed on the Commerce 

Control List maintained pursuant to part 774 of title 15, Code 

of Federal Regulations, shall be processed in a manner consistent with the Iran-Iraq Arms Non-Proliferation Act of 1992 

(title XVI of Public Law 102–484) and other applicable provisions of law. 

(2) Any other requests presenting unusual or extraordinary 

circumstances. 

(e) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe 

such regulations as are appropriate to carry out this section. 

SEC. 414. COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO PROMOTE INTERNET 

FREEDOM AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN IRAN. 

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary 

Deadline. 

22 USC 8754. 

Deadline. 

Deadline. 

Disclosure. 

Records. 

Process. 

22 USC 8753. 

Review. 


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of the Treasury and the heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

a comprehensive strategy to— 

(1) assist the people of Iran to produce, access, and share 

information freely and safely via the Internet, including in 

Farsi and regional languages; 

(2) support the development of counter-censorship technologies that enable the citizens of Iran to undertake Internet 

activities without interference from the Government of Iran; 

(3) increase the capabilities and availability of secure 

mobile and other communications through connective technology among human rights and democracy activists in Iran; 

(4) provide resources for digital safety training for media 

and academic and civil society organizations in Iran; 

(5) provide accurate and substantive Internet content in 

local languages in Iran; 

(6) increase emergency resources for the most vulnerable 

human rights advocates seeking to organize, share information, 

and support human rights in Iran; 

(7) expand surrogate radio, television, live stream, and 

social network communications inside Iran, including— 

(A) by expanding Voice of America’s Persian News 

Network and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Radio 

Farda to provide hourly live news update programming 

and breaking news coverage capability 24 hours a day 

and 7 days a week; and 

(B) by assisting telecommunications and software 

companies that are United States persons to comply with 

the export licensing requirements of the United States 

for the purpose of expanding such communications inside 

Iran; 

(8) expand activities to safely assist and train human 

rights, civil society, and democracy activists in Iran to operate 

effectively and securely; 

(9) identify and utilize all available resources to overcome 

attempts by the Government of Iran to jam or otherwise deny 

international satellite broadcasting signals; 

(10) expand worldwide United States embassy and consulate programming for and outreach to Iranian dissident 

communities; 

(11) expand access to proxy servers for democracy activists 

in Iran; and 

(12) discourage telecommunications and software companies from facilitating Internet censorship by the Government 

of Iran. 

SEC. 415. STATEMENT OF POLICY ON POLITICAL PRISONERS. 

It shall be the policy of the United States— 

(1) to support efforts to research and identify prisoners 

of conscience and cases of human rights abuses in Iran; 

(2) to offer refugee status or political asylum in the United 

States to political dissidents in Iran if requested and consistent 

with the laws and national security interests of the United 

States; 

(3) to offer to assist, through the United Nations High 

Commissioner for Refugees, with the relocation of such political 

prisoners to other countries if requested, as appropriate and 

22 USC 8755. 


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with appropriate consideration for the national security 

interests of the United States; and 

(4) to publicly call for the release of Iranian dissidents 

by name and raise awareness with respect to individual cases 

of Iranian dissidents and prisoners of conscience, as appropriate 

and if requested by the dissidents or prisoners themselves 

or their families. 

TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS 

SEC. 501. EXCLUSION OF CITIZENS OF IRAN SEEKING EDUCATION 

RELATING TO THE NUCLEAR AND ENERGY SECTORS OF 

IRAN. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall deny a visa 

to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall exclude from 

the United States, any alien who is a citizen of Iran that the 

Secretary of State determines seeks to enter the United States 

to participate in coursework at an institution of higher education 

(as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

(20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) to prepare the alien for a career in the energy 

sector of Iran or in nuclear science or nuclear engineering or a 

related field in Iran. 

(b) APPLICABILITY.—Subsection (a) applies with respect to visa 

applications filed on or after the date of the enactment of this 

Act. 

SEC. 502. INTERESTS IN CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS OF IRAN. 

(a) INTERESTS IN BLOCKED ASSETS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), notwithstanding 

any other provision of law, including any provision of law 

relating to sovereign immunity, and preempting any inconsistent provision of State law, a financial asset that is— 

(A) held in the United States for a foreign securities 

intermediary doing business in the United States; 

(B) a blocked asset (whether or not subsequently 

unblocked) that is property described in subsection (b); 

and 

(C) equal in value to a financial asset of Iran, including 

an asset of the central bank or monetary authority of 

the Government of Iran or any agency or instrumentality 

of that Government, that such foreign securities intermediary or a related intermediary holds abroad, 

shall be subject to execution or attachment in aid of execution 

in order to satisfy any judgment to the extent of any compensatory damages awarded against Iran for damages for personal 

injury or death caused by an act of torture, extrajudicial killing, 

aircraft sabotage, or hostage-taking, or the provision of material 

support or resources for such an act. 

(2) COURT DETERMINATION REQUIRED.—In order to ensure 

that Iran is held accountable for paying the judgments 

described in paragraph (1) and in furtherance of the broader 

goals of this Act to sanction Iran, prior to an award turning 

over any asset pursuant to execution or attachment in aid 

of execution with respect to any judgments against Iran 

described in paragraph (1), the court shall determine whether 

Iran holds equitable title to, or the beneficial interest in, the 

22 USC 8772. 

Determination. 

22 USC 8771. 


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assets described in subsection (b) and that no other person 

possesses a constitutionally protected interest in the assets 

described in subsection (b) under the Fifth Amendment to the 

Constitution of the United States. To the extent the court 

determines that a person other than Iran holds— 

(A) equitable title to, or a beneficial interest in, the 

assets described in subsection (b) (excluding a custodial 

interest of a foreign securities intermediary or a related 

intermediary that holds the assets abroad for the benefit 

of Iran); or 

(B) a constitutionally protected interest in the assets 

described in subsection (b), 

such assets shall be available only for execution or attachment 

in aid of execution to the extent of Iran’s equitable title or 

beneficial interest therein and to the extent such execution 

or attachment does not infringe upon such constitutionally protected interest. 

(b) FINANCIAL ASSETS DESCRIBED.—The financial assets 

described in this section are the financial assets that are identified 

in and the subject of proceedings in the United States District 

Court for the Southern District of New York in Peterson et al. 

v. Islamic Republic of Iran et al., Case No. 10 Civ. 4518 (BSJ) 

(GWG), that were restrained by restraining notices and levies 

secured by the plaintiffs in those proceedings, as modified by court 

order dated June 27, 2008, and extended by court orders dated 

June 23, 2009, May 10, 2010, and June 11, 2010, so long as 

such assets remain restrained by court order. 

(c) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section shall 

be construed— 

(1) to affect the availability, or lack thereof, of a right 

to satisfy a judgment in any other action against a terrorist 

party in any proceedings other than proceedings referred to 

in subsection (b); or 

(2) to apply to assets other than the assets described in 

subsection (b), or to preempt State law, including the Uniform 

Commercial Code, except as expressly provided in subsection 

(a)(1). 

(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) BLOCKED ASSET.—The term ‘‘blocked asset’’— 

(A) means any asset seized or frozen by the United 

States under section 5(b) of the Trading With the Enemy 

Act (50 U.S.C. App. 5(b)) or under section 202 or 203 

of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 

U.S.C. 1701 and 1702); and 

(B) does not include property that— 

(i) is subject to a license issued by the United 

States Government for final payment, transfer, or disposition by or to a person subject to the jurisdiction 

of the United States in connection with a transaction 

for which the issuance of the license has been specifically required by a provision of law other than the 

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 

U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) or the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 (22 U.S.C. 287 et seq.); or 

(ii) is property subject to the Vienna Convention 

on Diplomatic Relations or the Vienna Convention on 

Consular Relations, or that enjoys equivalent privileges 


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and immunities under the laws of the United States, 

and is being used exclusively for diplomatic or consular 

purposes. 

(2) FINANCIAL ASSET; SECURITIES INTERMEDIARY.—The 

terms ‘‘financial asset’’ and ‘‘securities intermediary’’ have the 

meanings given those terms in the Uniform Commercial Code, 

but the former includes cash. 

(3) IRAN.—The term ‘‘Iran’’ means the Government of Iran, 

including the central bank or monetary authority of that 

Government and any agency or instrumentality of that Government. 

(4) PERSON.— 

(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘person’’ means an individual or entity. 

(B) ENTITY.—The term ‘‘entity’’ means a partnership, 

association, trust, joint venture, corporation, group, subgroup, or other organization. 

(5) TERRORIST PARTY.—The term ‘‘terrorist party’’ has the 

meaning given that term in section 201(d) of the Terrorism 

Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (28 U.S.C. 1610 note). 

(6) UNITED STATES.—The term ‘‘United States’’ includes 

all territory and waters, continental, or insular, subject to the 

jurisdiction of the United States. 

(e) TECHNICAL CHANGES TO THE FOREIGN SOVEREIGN IMMUNITIES ACT.— 

(1) TITLE 28, UNITED STATES CODE.—Section 1610 of title 

28, United States Code, is amended— 

(A) in subsection (a)(7), by inserting after ‘‘section 

1605A’’ the following: ‘‘or section 1605(a)(7) (as such section 

was in effect on January 27, 2008)’’; and 

(B) in subsection (b)— 

(i) in paragraph (2)— 

(I) by striking ‘‘(5), 1605(b), or 1605A’’ and 

inserting ‘‘(5) or 1605(b)’’; and 

(II) by striking the period at the end and 

inserting ‘‘, or’’; and 

(ii) by adding after paragraph (2) the following: 

‘‘(3) the judgment relates to a claim for which the agency 

or instrumentality is not immune by virtue of section 1605A 

of this chapter or section 1605(a)(7) of this chapter (as such 

section was in effect on January 27, 2008), regardless of 

whether the property is or was involved in the act upon which 

the claim is based.’’. 

(2) TERRORISM RISK INSURANCE ACT OF 2002.—Section 201(a) 

of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (28 U.S.C. 1610 

note) is amended by striking ‘‘section 1605(a)(7)’’ and inserting 

‘‘section 1605A or 1605(a)(7) (as such section was in effect 

on January 27, 2008)’’. 

SEC. 503. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS TO SECTION 1245 OF THE 

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL 

YEAR 2012. 

(a) EXCEPTION FOR SALES OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1245(d)(2) of the National Defense 

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8513a(d)(2)) 

is amended— 


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(A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ‘‘AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES,’’ after ‘‘SALES OF’’; and 

(B) in the text, by inserting ‘‘agricultural commodities,’’ 

after ‘‘sale of’’. 

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by paragraph 

(1) shall take effect as if included in the National Defense 

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Public Law 112–81; 

125 Stat. 1298). 

(b) REPORT OF ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 1245(d)(4)(A) of the National 

Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (22 U.S.C. 

8513a(d)(4)(A)) is amended— 

(A) by striking ‘‘60 days after the date of the enactment 

of this Act, and every 60 days thereafter’’ and inserting 

‘‘October 25, 2012, and the last Thursday of every other 

month thereafter’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘60-day period’’ and inserting ‘‘2-month 

period’’. 

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by paragraph 

(1) shall take effect on September 1, 2012. 

SEC. 504. EXPANSION OF SANCTIONS UNDER SECTION 1245 OF THE 

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL 

YEAR 2012. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1245 of the National Defense 

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8513a), as 

amended by section 503, is further amended— 

(1) in subsection (d)— 

(A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘a foreign financial 

institution owned or controlled by the government of a 

foreign country, including’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (4)(D)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘Sanctions imposed’’ and inserting 

the following: 

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—Sanctions imposed’’; 

(ii) in clause (i), as designated by clause (i) of 

this subparagraph— 

(I) by striking ‘‘a foreign financial institution’’ 

and inserting ‘‘a financial transaction described 

in clause (ii) conducted or facilitated by a foreign 

financial institution’’; 

(II) by striking ‘‘institution has significantly’’ 

and inserting ‘‘institution— 

‘‘(I) has significantly reduced’’; 

(III) by striking the period at the end and 

inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 

(IV) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(II) in the case of a country that has previously received an exception under this subparagraph, has, after receiving the exception, reduced 

its crude oil purchases from Iran to zero.’’; and 

(iii) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(ii) FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED.—A 

financial transaction conducted or facilitated by a foreign financial institution is described in this clause 

if— 

22 USC 8513a 

note. 

22 USC 8513a 

note. 


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‘‘(I) the financial transaction is only for trade 

in goods or services between the country with primary jurisdiction over the foreign financial institution and Iran; and 

‘‘(II) any funds owed to Iran as a result of 

such trade are credited to an account located in 

the country with primary jurisdiction over the foreign financial institution.’’; 

(2) in subsection (h)— 

(A) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); 

and 

(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following: 

‘‘(3) SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS.—The terms ‘reduce significantly’, ‘significant reduction’, and ‘significantly reduced’, with 

respect to purchases from Iran of petroleum and petroleum 

products, include a reduction in such purchases in terms of 

price or volume toward a complete cessation of such purchases.’’; 

and 

(3) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(i) TERMINATION.—The provisions of this section shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after the date on which the 

President submits to Congress the certification described in section 

401(a) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and 

Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8551(a)).’’. 

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by paragraphs 

(1) and (2) of subsection (a) shall apply with respect to financial 

transactions conducted or facilitated on or after the date that is 

180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 

SEC. 505. REPORTS ON NATURAL GAS EXPORTS FROM IRAN. 

(a) REPORT BY ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION.—Not 

later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration shall 

submit to the President and the appropriate congressional committees a report on the natural gas sector of Iran that includes— 

(1) an assessment of exports of natural gas from Iran; 

(2) an identification of the countries that purchase the 

most natural gas from Iran; 

(3) an assessment of alternative supplies of natural gas 

available to those countries; 

(4) an assessment of the impact a reduction in exports 

of natural gas from Iran would have on global natural gas 

supplies and the price of natural gas, especially in countries 

identified under paragraph (2); and 

(5) such other information as the Administrator considers 

appropriate. 

(b) REPORT BY PRESIDENT.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after receiving 

the report required by subsection (a), the President shall, 

relying on information in that report, submit to the appropriate 

congressional committees a report that includes— 

(A) an assessment of— 

(i) the extent to which revenues from exports of 

natural gas from Iran are still enriching the Government of Iran; 

(ii) whether a sanctions regime similar to the sanctions regime imposed with respect to purchases of 

Applicability. 

22 USC 8513a 

note. 

Definition. 


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petroleum and petroleum products from Iran pursuant 

to section 1245 of the National Defense Authorization 

Act for Fiscal Year 2012, as amended by sections 503 

and 504, or other measures could be applied effectively 

to exports of natural gas from Iran; 

(iii) the geostrategic implications of a reduction 

in exports of natural gas from Iran, including the 

impact of such a reduction on the countries identified 

under subsection (a)(2); 

(iv) alternative supplies of natural gas available 

to those countries; and 

(v) the impact a reduction in exports of natural 

gas from Iran would have on global natural gas supplies and the price of natural gas and the impact, 

if any, on swap arrangements for natural gas in place 

between Iran and neighboring countries; and 

(B) specific recommendations with respect to measures 

designed to limit the revenue received by the Government 

of Iran from exports of natural gas; and 

(C) any other information the President considers 

appropriate. 

(2) FORM OF REPORT.—Each report required by paragraph 

(1) shall be submitted in unclassified form but may contain 

a classified annex. 

SEC. 506. REPORT ON MEMBERSHIP OF IRAN IN INTERNATIONAL 

ORGANIZATIONS. 

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 

this Act, and not later than September 1 of each year thereafter, 

the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

committees a report listing the international organizations of which 

Iran is a member and detailing the amount that the United States 

contributes to each such organization on an annual basis. 

SEC. 507. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON EXPORTATION OF GOODS, SERVICES, AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR AIRCRAFT PRODUCED IN 

THE UNITED STATES. 

It is the sense of Congress that licenses to export or reexport 

goods, services, or technologies for aircraft produced in the United 

States should be provided only in situations in which such licenses 

are truly essential and in a manner consistent with the laws and 

foreign policy goals of the United States. 

TITLE VI—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

SEC. 601. IMPLEMENTATION; PENALTIES. 

(a) IMPLEMENTATION.—The President may exercise all authorities provided under sections 203 and 205 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702 and 1704) to carry 

out— 

(1) sections 211, 212, 213, 217, 218, 220, 312, and 411, 

subtitle A of title III, and title VII; 

(2) section 104A of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, 

Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, as added by section 

312; and 

22 USC 8781. 

22 USC 8773. 


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(3) sections 105A and 105B of the Comprehensive Iran 

Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, as added 

by subtitle A of title IV. 

(b) PENALTIES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The penalties provided for in subsections 

(b) and (c) of section 206 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1705) shall apply to a person 

that violates, attempts to violate, conspires to violate, or causes 

a violation of a provision specified in paragraph (2) of this 

subsection, or an order or regulation prescribed under such 

a provision, to the same extent that such penalties apply to 

a person that commits an unlawful act described in section 

206(a) of that Act. 

(2) PROVISIONS SPECIFIED.—The provisions specified in this 

paragraph are the following: 

(A) Sections 211, 212, 213, and 220, subtitle A of title 

III, and title VII. 

(B) Sections 105A and 105B of the Comprehensive 

Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, 

as added by subtitle A of title IV. 

SEC. 602. APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES. 

Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act 

shall apply to the authorized intelligence activities of the United 

States. 

SEC. 603. APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN NATURAL GAS PROJECTS. 

(a) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN NATURAL GAS PROJECTS.—Nothing 

in this Act or the amendments made by this Act shall apply to 

any activity relating to a project— 

(1) for the development of natural gas and the construction 

and operation of a pipeline to transport natural gas from Azerbaijan to Turkey and Europe; 

(2) that provides to Turkey and countries in Europe energy 

security and energy independence from the Government of the 

Russian Federation and other governments with jurisdiction 

over persons subject to sanctions imposed under this Act or 

amendments made by this Act; and 

(3) that was initiated before the date of the enactment 

of this Act pursuant to a production-sharing agreement, or 

an ancillary agreement necessary to further a productionsharing agreement, entered into with, or a license granted 

by, the government of a country other than Iran before such 

date of enactment. 

(b) TERMINATION OF EXCEPTION.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The exception under subsection (a) shall 

not apply with respect to a project described in that subsection 

on or after the date on which the President certifies to the 

appropriate congressional committees that— 

(A) the percentage of the equity interest in the project 

held by or on behalf of an entity described in paragraph 

(2) has increased relative to the percentage of the equity 

interest in the project held by or on behalf of such an 

entity on January 1, 2002; or 

(B) an entity described in paragraph (2) has assumed 

an operational role in the project. 

(2) ENTITY DESCRIBED.—An entity described in this paragraph is— 

Certification. 

22 USC 8783. 

22 USC 8782. 


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(A) an entity— 

(i) owned or controlled by the Government of Iran 

or identified under section 560.304 of title 31, Code 

of Federal Regulations (relating to the definition of 

the Government of Iran); or 

(ii) organized under the laws of Iran or with the 

participation or approval of the Government of Iran; 

(B) an entity owned or controlled by an entity described 

in subparagraph (A); or 

(C) a successor entity to an entity described in subparagraph (A). 

SEC. 604. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION WITH RESPECT TO USE OF FORCE 

AGAINST IRAN AND SYRIA. 

Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this Act 

shall be construed as a declaration of war or an authorization 

of the use of force against Iran or Syria. 

SEC. 605. TERMINATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of sections 211, 212, 213, 

218, 220, 221, and 501, title I, and subtitle A of title III shall 

terminate on the date that is 30 days after the date on which 

the President makes the certification described in section 401(a) 

of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8551(a)). 

(b) AMENDMENT TO TERMINATION DATE OF COMPREHENSIVE

IRAN SANCTIONS, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND DIVESTMENT ACT OF 2010.— 

Section 401(a)(2) of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8551(a)(2)) is 

amended by inserting ‘‘, and verifiably dismantled its,’’ after 

‘‘development of’’. 

TITLE VII—SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT 

TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN SYRIA 

SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE. 

This title may be cited as the ‘‘Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012’’. 

SEC. 702. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO CERTAIN PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT IN 

HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED AGAINST CITIZENS 

OF SYRIA OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose sanctions 

described in subsection (c) with respect to each person on the 

list required by subsection (b). 

(b) LIST OF PERSONS WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OR COMPLICIT

IN CERTAIN HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to 

the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons who 

are officials of the Government of Syria or persons acting on 

behalf of that Government that the President determines, based 

on credible evidence, are responsible for or complicit in, or 

responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the 

commission of serious human rights abuses against citizens 

Deadline. 

22 USC 8791. 

22 USC 8701 

note. 

Syria Human 

Rights 

Accountability 

Act of 2012. 

President. 

Determinations. 

22 USC 8785. 

22 USC 8784. 


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126 STAT. 1266 PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 

of Syria or their family members, regardless of whether such 

abuses occurred in Syria. 

(2) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees an updated list under 

paragraph (1)— 

(A) not later than 300 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and every 180 days thereafter; and 

(B) as new information becomes available. 

(3) FORM OF REPORT; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— (A) FORM.—The list required by paragraph (1) shall 

be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. 

(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The unclassified portion of 

the list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available 

to the public and posted on the websites of the Department 

of the Treasury and the Department of State. 

(4) CONSIDERATION OF DATA FROM OTHER COUNTRIES AND

NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.—In preparing the list 

required by paragraph (1), the President shall consider credible 

data already obtained by other countries and nongovernmental 

organizations, including organizations in Syria, that monitor 

the human rights abuses of the Government of Syria. 

(c) SANCTIONS DESCRIBED.—The sanctions described in this subsection are sanctions pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), including blocking of 

property and restrictions or prohibitions on financial transactions 

and the exportation of property, subject to such regulations as 

the President may prescribe. 

SEC. 703. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE 

TRANSFER OF GOODS OR TECHNOLOGIES TO SYRIA THAT 

ARE LIKELY TO BE USED TO COMMIT HUMAN RIGHTS 

ABUSES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose sanctions 

described in section 702(c) with respect to— 

(1) each person on the list required by subsection (b); 

and 

(2) any person that— 

(A) is a successor entity to a person on the list; 

(B) owns or controls a person on the list, if the person 

that owns or controls the person on the list had actual 

knowledge or should have known that the person on the 

list engaged in the activity described in subsection (b)(2) 

for which the person was included in the list; or 

(C) is owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or control with, the person on the list, if the person 

owned or controlled by, or under common ownership or 

control with (as the case may be), the person on the list 

knowingly engaged in the activity described in subsection 

(b)(2) for which the person was included in the list. 

(b) LIST.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to 

the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons that 

the President determines have knowingly engaged in an activity 

described in paragraph (2) on or after such date of enactment. 

(2) ACTIVITY DESCRIBED.— 

Deadline. 

22 USC 8792. 

Web posting. 

Deadlines. 


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PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 126 STAT. 1267 

(A) IN GENERAL.—A person engages in an activity 

described in this paragraph if the person— 

(i) transfers, or facilitates the transfer of, goods 

or technologies described in subparagraph (C) to Syria; 

or 

(ii) provides services with respect to goods or technologies described in subparagraph (C) after such goods 

or technologies are transferred to Syria. 

(B) APPLICABILITY TO CONTRACTS AND OTHER AGREE- MENTS.—A person engages in an activity described in 

subparagraph (A) without regard to whether the activity 

is carried out pursuant to a contract or other agreement 

entered into before, on, or after the date of the enactment 

of this Act. 

(C) GOODS OR TECHNOLOGIES DESCRIBED.—Goods or 

technologies described in this subparagraph are goods or 

technologies that the President determines are likely to 

be used by the Government of Syria or any of its agencies 

or instrumentalities to commit human rights abuses 

against the people of Syria, including— 

(i) firearms or ammunition (as those terms are 

defined in section 921 of title 18, United States Code), 

rubber bullets, police batons, pepper or chemical 

sprays, stun grenades, electroshock weapons, tear gas, 

water cannons, or surveillance technology; or 

(ii) sensitive technology. 

(D) SENSITIVE TECHNOLOGY DEFINED.— 

(i) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of subparagraph (C), 

the term ‘‘sensitive technology’’ means hardware, software, telecommunications equipment, or any other 

technology, that the President determines is to be used 

specifically— 

(I) to restrict the free flow of unbiased information in Syria; or 

(II) to disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict 

speech of the people of Syria. 

(ii) EXCEPTION.—The term ‘‘sensitive technology’’ 

does not include information or informational materials 

the exportation of which the President does not have 

the authority to regulate or prohibit pursuant to section 

203(b)(3) of the International Emergency Economic 

Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(3)). 

(3) SPECIAL RULE TO ALLOW FOR TERMINATION OF

SANCTIONABLE ACTIVITY.—The President shall not be required 

to include a person on the list required by paragraph (1) if 

the President certifies in writing to the appropriate congressional committees that— 

(A) the person is no longer engaging in, or has taken 

significant verifiable steps toward stopping, the activity 

described in paragraph (2) for which the President would 

otherwise have included the person on the list; and 

(B) the President has received reliable assurances that 

the person will not knowingly engage in any activity 

described in paragraph (2) in the future. 

(4) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees an updated list under 

paragraph (1)— 

Certification. 


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126 STAT. 1268 PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 

(A) not later than 300 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and every 180 days thereafter; and 

(B) as new information becomes available. 

(5) FORM OF REPORT; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— (A) FORM.—The list required by paragraph (1) shall 

be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. 

(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The unclassified portion of 

the list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available 

to the public and posted on the websites of the Department 

of the Treasury and the Department of State. 

SEC. 704. IMPOSITION OF SANCTIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERSONS 

WHO ENGAGE IN CENSORSHIP OR OTHER FORMS OF 

REPRESSION IN SYRIA. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall impose sanctions 

described in section 702(c) with respect to each person on the 

list required by subsection (b). 

(b) LIST OF PERSONS WHO ENGAGE IN CENSORSHIP.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the President shall submit to 

the appropriate congressional committees a list of persons that 

the President determines have engaged in censorship, or activities relating to censorship, in a manner that prohibits, limits, 

or penalizes the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression 

by citizens of Syria. 

(2) UPDATES OF LIST.—The President shall submit to the 

appropriate congressional committees an updated list under 

paragraph (1)— 

(A) not later than 300 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and every 180 days thereafter; and 

(B) as new information becomes available. 

(3) FORM OF REPORT; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.— 

(A) FORM.—The list required by paragraph (1) shall 

be submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex. 

(B) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The unclassified portion of 

the list required by paragraph (1) shall be made available 

to the public and posted on the websites of the Department 

of the Treasury and the Department of State. 

SEC. 705. WAIVER. 

The President may waive the requirement to include a person 

on a list required by section 702, 703, or 704 or to impose sanctions 

pursuant to any such section if the President— 

(1) determines that such a waiver is in the national security 

interests of the United States; and 

(2) submits to the appropriate congressional committees 

a report on the reasons for that determination. 

SEC. 706. TERMINATION. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The provisions of this title and any sanctions 

imposed pursuant to this title shall terminate on the date on 

which the President submits to the appropriate congressional 

committees— 

(1) the certification described in subsection (b); and 

Certification. (2) a certification that— 

22 USC 8795. 

Reports. 

22 USC 8794. 

Web posting. 

Deadlines. 

Deadline. 

22 USC 8793. 

Web posting. 

Deadlines. 


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PUBLIC LAW 112–158—AUG. 10, 2012 126 STAT. 1269 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1905: 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 

Vol. 157 (2011): Dec. 13, 14, considered and passed House. 

Vol. 158 (2012): May 21, considered and passed Senate, amended. 

Aug. 1, House concurred in Senate amendment with an 

amendment. Senate concurred in House amendment. 

Æ 

(A) the Government of Syria is democratically elected 

and representative of the people of Syria; or 

(B) a legitimate transitional government of Syria is 

in place. 

(b) CERTIFICATION DESCRIBED.—A certification described in this 

subsection is a certification by the President that the Government 

of Syria— 

(1) has unconditionally released all political prisoners; 

(2) has ceased its practices of violence, unlawful detention, 

torture, and abuse of citizens of Syria engaged in peaceful 

political activity; 

(3) has ceased its practice of procuring sensitive technology 

designed to restrict the free flow of unbiased information in 

Syria, or to disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict the right 

of citizens of Syria to freedom of expression; 

(4) has ceased providing support for foreign terrorist 

organizations and no longer allows such organizations, 

including Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, 

to maintain facilities in territory under the control of the 

Government of Syria; and 

(5) has ceased the development and deployment of mediumand long-range surface-to-surface ballistic missiles; 

(6) is not pursuing or engaged in the research, development, 

acquisition, production, transfer, or deployment of biological, 

chemical, or nuclear weapons, and has provided credible assurances that it will not engage in such activities in the future; 

and 

(7) has agreed to allow the United Nations and other international observers to verify that the Government of Syria is 

not engaging in such activities and to assess the credibility 

of the assurances provided by that Government. 

(c) SUSPENSION OF SANCTIONS AFTER ELECTION OF DEMOCRATIC

GOVERNMENT.—If the President submits to the appropriate congressional committees the certification described in subsection (a)(2), 

the President may suspend the provisions of this title and any 

sanctions imposed under this title for not more than 180 days 

to allow time for a certification described in subsection (b) to be 

submitted. 

Approved August 10, 2012. 


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