22 USC 8572 - Imposition of sanctions with respect to Iranian petroleum

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 8572.

Imposition of sanctions with respect to Iranian petroleum

(a)

In general

(b)

Activities described

A foreign person engages in an activity described in this subsection if the foreign person—

(1)

owns or operates a foreign port at which, on or after April 24, 2024, such person knowingly permits to dock a vessel—

(A)

that is included on the list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury for transporting Iranian crude oil or petroleum products; or

(B)

of which the operator or owner of such vessel otherwise knowingly engages in a significant transaction involving such vessel to transport, offload, or deal in significant transactions in condensate, refined, or unrefined petroleum products, or other petrochemical products originating from the Islamic Republic of Iran;

(2)

owns or operates a vessel through which such owner knowingly conducts a ship to ship transfer involving a significant transaction of any petroleum product originating from the Islamic Republic of Iran;

(3)

owns or operates a refinery through which such owner knowingly engages in a significant transaction to process, refine, or otherwise deal in any petroleum product originating from the Islamic Republic of Iran;

(4)

is a covered family member of a foreign person described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3); or

(5)

is owned or controlled by a foreign person described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3), and knowingly engages in an activity described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3).

(c)

Sanctions described

The sanctions described in this subsection with respect to a foreign person described in subsection (a) are the following:

(1)

Sanctions on foreign vessels

Subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe, the President may prohibit a vessel described in subsection (b)(1)(A) or (b)(1)(B) from landing at any port in the United States—

(A)

with respect to a vessel described in subsection (b)(1)(A), for a period of not more than 2 years beginning on the date on which the President imposes sanctions with respect to a related foreign port described in subsection (b)(1)(A); and

(B)

with respect to a vessel described in subsection (b)(1)(B), for a period of not more than 2 years.

(2)

Blocking of property

(3)

Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole

(A)

Visas, admission, or parole

An alien described in subsection (a) is—

(i)

inadmissible to the United States;

(ii)

ineligible to receive a visa or other documentation to enter the United States; and

(iii)

otherwise ineligible to be admitted or paroled into the United States or to receive any other benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).

(B)

Current visas revoked

(i)

In general

(ii)

Immediate effect

(C)

Exceptions

Sanctions under this paragraph shall not apply with respect to an alien if admitting or paroling the alien into the United States is necessary—

(i)

to permit the United States to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United Nations and the United States, or other applicable international obligations; or

(ii)

to carry out or assist law enforcement activity in the United States.

(4)

Penalties

(d)

Rules of construction

(1)

For purposes of determinations under subsection (a) that a foreign person engaged in activities described in subsection (b), a foreign person shall not be determined to know that petroleum or petroleum products originated from Iran if such person relied on a certificate of origin or other documentation confirming that the origin of the petroleum or petroleum products was a country other than Iran, unless such person knew or had reason to know that such documentation was falsified.

(2)

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to affect the availability of any existing authorities to issue waivers, exceptions, exemptions, licenses, or other authorization.

(e)

Implementation; regulations

(1)

In general

(2)

Deadline for regulations

(3)

Notification to Congress

Not later than 10 days before the prescription of regulations under paragraph (2), the President shall brief and provide written notification to the appropriate congressional committees regarding—

(A)

the proposed regulations; and

(B)

the specific provisions of this subchapter that the regulations are implementing.

(f)

Exception for humanitarian assistance

(1)

In general

Sanctions under this section shall not apply to—

(A)

the conduct or facilitation of a transaction for the provision of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, medical devices, or humanitarian assistance, or for humanitarian purposes; or

(B)

transactions that are necessary for or related to the activities described in subparagraph (A).

(2)

Definitions

In this subsection:

(A)

Agricultural commodity

(B)

Medical device

(C)

Medicine

(g)

Exception for safety of vessels and crew

(h)

Waiver

(1)

In general

(2)

Special rule

The President shall not be required to impose sanctions under this section with respect to a foreign person described in subsection (a) if the President certifies in writing to the appropriate congressional committees that the foreign person—

(A)

is no longer engaging in activities described in subsection (b); or

(B)

has taken and is continuing to take significant, verifiable steps toward permanently terminating such activities.

(i)

Termination

The authorities provided by this section shall cease to have effect on and after the date that is 30 days after the date on which the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that—

(1)

the Government of Iran no longer repeatedly provides support for international terrorism as determined by the Secretary of State pursuant to—

(A)

section 4813(c)(1)(A) of title 50;

(B)

section 2371 of this title;

(C)

section 2780 of this title; or

(D)

any other provision of law; and

(2)

Iran has ceased the pursuit, acquisition, and development of, and verifiably dismantled, its nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, ballistic missiles, and ballistic missile launch technology.

(Pub. L. 118–50, div. J, § 3, Apr. 24, 2024, 138 Stat. 963.)

cite as: 22 USC 8572