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Why the White House Is Giving Blanket OK For Earthquake Aid to Iran

More than a week after two earthquakes hit Iran, the US Treasury Department has issued a “temporary general license” that will permit American nongovernmental organizations to send up to $300,000 to Iran for humanitarian relief and reconstruction over the next 45 days. Barbara Slavin reports for Al-Monitor.
An earthquake victim stands near a damaged house in the earthquake-stricken town of Azerbaijan in Iran, August 13, 2012. Rescue workers in Iran on Tuesday recovered more bodies three days after two powerful earthquakes struck the northwest of the country, killing more than 300 people, but officials played down reports that casualty numbers may still sharply rise. Picture taken August 13, 2012. REUTERS/Farshid Tighehsaz/ISNA (IRAN - Tags: DISASTER) FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERT

More than a week after Iran suffered two earthquakes in its northwestern province of Azerbaijan, the US Treasury Department has issued a “temporary general license” that will permit American non-governmental organizations to send up to $300,000 to Iran for humanitarian relief and reconstruction over the next 45 days.

The Obama administration took the action after complaints from Iranian Americans and others that US banks were reluctant to process such transactions despite the fact that the US regulations exempt humanitarian items from sanctions. The Treasury Department announced last week (Aug. 14) that it would expedite authorization for Americans seeking to help Iranian quake victims, but the announcement didn’t do much good, Iranian Americans say.

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