[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 222 (Friday, November 15, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 58480-58481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29276]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Foreign Assets Control

31 CFR Part 560


Iranian Transactions Regulations

AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule; amendment.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of 
the Treasury is amending the Iranian Transactions Regulations to 
clarify the reporting requirement in Sec. 560.603 for oil-related 
transactions.

EFFECTIVE DATE: November 14, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Loren L. Dohm, Chief, Blocked Assets 
Division (tel.: 202/622-2440), or William B. Hoffman, Chief Counsel 
(tel.: 202/622-2410), Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of 
the Treasury, Washington, DC 20220.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic and Facsimile Availability

    This document is available as an electronic file on The Federal 
Bulletin Board the day of publication in the Federal Register. By 
modem, dial 202/512-1387 and type ``/GO FAC,'' or call 202/512-1530 for 
disk or paper copies. This file is available for downloading without 
charge in WordPerfect 5.1, ASCII, and Adobe AcrobatTM readable 
(*.PDF) formats. For Internet access, the address for use with the 
World Wide Web (Home Page), Telnet, or FTP protocol is: 
fedbbs.access.gpo.gov. The document is also accessible for downloading 
in ASCII format without charge from Treasury's Electronic Library 
(``TEL'') in the ``Business, Trade and Labor Mall'' of the FedWorld 
bulletin board. By modem, dial 703/321-3339, and select the appropriate 
self-expanding file in TEL. For Internet access, use one of the 
following protocols: Telnet = fedworld.gov (192.239.93.3); World Wide 
Web (Home Page) = http://www.fedworld.gov; FTP = ftp.fedworld.gov 
(192.239.92.205). Additional information concerning the programs of the 
Office of Foreign Assets Control is available for downloading from the 
Office's Internet Home Page: http://www.ustreas.gov/treasury/services/
fac/fac.html, or in fax form through the Office's 24-hour fax-on-demand 
service: call 202/622-0077 using a fax machine, fax modem, or touch 
tone telephone.

Background

    In Executive Order 12957 of March 15, 1995 (60 FR 14615, March 17, 
1995), President Clinton declared a national emergency with respect to 
the actions and policies of the Government of Iran and imposed 
sanctions against Iran supplementing those which were imposed in 1987, 
invoking the authority, inter alia, of the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701-06 -- ``IEEPA''). The President 
substantially supplemented and amended those sanctions in Executive 
Order 12959 of May 6, 1995 (60 FR 24757, May 9, 1995), invoking the 
authority, inter alia, of IEEPA and the International Security and 
Development Cooperation Act of 1985 (22 U.S.C. 2349aa-9). In 
implementation of these orders, the Office of Foreign Assets Control 
amended the Iranian Transactions Regulations in September 1995 (60 FR 
47061, September 11, 1995 -- the ``Regulations'').
    This final rule further amends the Regulations to clarify that the 
scope of the reporting requirement in Sec. 560.603 extends beyond 
transactions directly involving crude oil or natural gas to include 
transactions involving petrochemicals and the provision of goods and 
services related to the financing, lifting, transporting, insuring, 
refining or processing of crude oil, natural gas and petrochemicals, 
including the sale to Iran of oilfield supplies or equipment.
    Because the Regulations involve a foreign affairs function, 
Executive Order 12866 and the provisions of the Administrative 
Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requiring notice of proposed rulemaking, 
opportunity for public participation, and delay in effective date, are 
inapplicable. Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is required for 
this rule, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), does not 
apply.

List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 560

    Administrative practice and procedure, Agricultural commodities, 
Banking and finance, Exports, Foreign trade, Imports, Information, 
Investments, Iran, Loans, Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Services, Specially designated nationals, Terrorism, 
Transportation.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 31 CFR part 560 is 
amended as follows:

PART 560--IRANIAN TRANSACTIONS REGULATIONS

    1. The authority section is revised to read as follows:
    Authority: 50 U.S.C. 1701-1706; 50 U.S.C. 1601-1651; 22 U.S.C. 
2349aa-9; Pub. L. 104-132, 110 Stat. 1214, 1254 (18 U.S.C. 2332d); 
Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890 (28 U.S.C. 2461 note); 3 U.S.C. 301; 
E.O. 12613, 52 FR 41940, 3 CFR, 1987 Comp., p. 256; E.O. 12957, 60 
FR 14615, 3 CFR, 1995 Comp., p. 332; E.O. 12959, 60 FR 24757, 3 CFR, 
1995 Comp., p. 356.

Subpart F--Reports

    2. Section 560.603 is amended by revising paragraph (f)(2) to read 
as follows:

[[Page 58481]]

Sec. 560.603  Reports on oil transactions engaged in by foreign 
affiliates.

* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (2) The term ``reportable transaction'' includes:
    (i) Any purchase, sale, or swap of Iranian-origin crude oil, 
natural gas, or petrochemicals;
    (ii) The provision of goods or services to Iran or the Government 
of Iran relating to the financing, lifting, transporting, insuring, 
refining or processing of crude oil, natural gas, or petrochemicals, 
including oilfield supplies or equipment.

    Dated: October 24, 1996.
R. Richard Newcomb,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
    Approved: October 25, 1996.
James E. Johnson,
Assistant Secretary (Enforcement).
[FR Doc. 96-29276 Filed 11-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-25-F