On December 15, 2009 the State Department (not DDTC) submitted notification to Congress recommending that OFAC issue a new general license. The general license would authorize downloads of mass market software to Iran for personal communications and sharing of information over the internet, such as Instant Messaging, email and social networking. The push for this general license comes from the fact that US sanctions are causing companies such as Microsoft and Google to not be able to provide essential communication tools to ordinary Iranians.
This general license will be the third general license issued by OFAC under the Iranian Transactions Regulations and will be very comparable to exemptions which already exist for the exchange of direct mail and phone calls. The general license will exclude the direct/indirect exportation of services or software intended for the Government of Iran. OFAC should be issuing the general license early this year.
It should be noted that a general license authorizes the performance of certain categories of transactions without having to submit a license application to OFAC, a much easier process than that of obtaining a specific license from OFAC.
We have seen the positive impact that the easy availability of cell phones and other communication means had when the people of Iran protested the “fixed” election last summer, despite the fact that the US prohibits the export of cell phones and similar devices to Iran. Apparently some people in the State Department believe that when unilateral US embargoes work against people seeking free and fair elections, the US embargoes should be changed.
Information: http://levin.senate.gov/newsroom/supporting/2009/SASC.IranReport.121509.pdf
