USC Subchapter IV

USC Subchapter IV
in effect

22 U.S.C. § 8751 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 August 10, 2012, 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 8551(a) of this title; and (2) with respect to Syria, until the date on which the provisions of and sanctions imposed pursuant to subchapter VII terminate pursuant to section 8795 of this title.

22 U.S.C. § 8752 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 August 10, 2012, 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 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.

22 U.S.C. § 8753 Expedited consideration of requests for authorization of certain human rights-, humanitarian-, and democracy-related activities with respect to Iran

(a) RequirementThe 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) ProceduresRequests 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 reviewThe 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 determinationsLicense 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) RegulationsThe Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe such regulations as are appropriate to carry out this section.

22 U.S.C. § 8754 Comprehensive strategy to promote Internet freedom and access to information in Iran

Not later than 90 days after August 10, 2012, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary 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.

22 U.S.C. § 8754a Strategy and grant program to promote internet freedom in Iran

(a) Strategy(1) In generalNot later than 90 days after December 23, 2024, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall develop a strategy to support and enhance access to information by civil society in Iran. (2) ElementsThe strategy required in subparagraph (A) 11 So in original. Probably should be “paragraph (1)”. shall include the following elements:(A) An evaluation of the use of virtual private networks by civil society in Iran. (B) An assessment of the level of internet access for Iranians who do not use virtual private networks, including levels of reliable connectivity, bandwidth, and coverage, as well as censorship, surveillance, and other limitations on internet access. (C) A strategy to increase the accessibility of virtual private networks in Iran. (D) An assessment of alternatives to virtual private networks that are capable of circumventing restrictions on open internet access imposed by the Government of Iran. (E) An assessment of how companies providing Iranian civilians with technology and other tools to overcome technical and political obstacles are able to access the open internet. (F) An assessment of the ability of the Government of Iran to cut off all access to the internet in Iran. (G) A strategy to circumvent internet blackouts for Iranian civil society. (3) Initial updateNot later than 120 days after December 23, 2024, the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate an updated version of the strategy required in paragraph (1). (4) Periodic review and updatesThe Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall—(A) not less frequently than twice each year, review the strategy required in paragraph (1); and (B) if the results of such review indicate that modifications to such strategy are required to more effectively promote internet freedom and access to information for civil society in Iran, submit to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate an updated version of such strategy. (5) FormEach strategy required to be submitted under this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex. (b) Grant program and contract authority(1) In generalThe Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development and the President of the Open Technology Fund, as appropriate, may award grants and enter into contracts to private organizations to support and develop programs in Iran that promote or expand—(A) an open, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet; and (B) the online exercise of internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms of civil society in Iran. (2) Program goalsThe goal of each program developed with a grant funds awarded pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be to—(A) support unrestricted access to the internet in Iran; (B) increase the availability of internet freedom tools to overcome technical and political obstacles to internet access in Iran; (C) increase the distribution of such technologies and tools throughout Iran; (D) conduct research on repressive tactics that undermine internet freedom in Iran; (E) ensure that information regarding digital safety is available to civil society in Iran; or (F) engage private industry, including e-commerce firms and social networking companies, regarding the importance of preserving unrestricted internet access in Iran. (3) Grant award requirementsThe Secretary shall award grants authorized in paragraph (1) to recipients through an evidence-based process. (4) Security auditsThe Secretary shall conduct a comprehensive security audit of each new technology developed using grant funds distributed pursuant to paragraph (1) to ensure that each such technology is secure and has not been compromised in a manner detrimental to—(A) the interests of the United States; or (B) an individual or organization benefitting from a program supported by such funding. (5) Authorization of appropriations(A) In generalThere is authorized to be appropriated for the Open Technology Fund established under section 6208a of this title $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to carry out the grant program authorized under this subsection. (B) AvailabilityAmounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization in subparagraph (A) are authorized remain available until expended.

22 U.S.C. § 8755 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 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.

22 U.S.C. § 8756 Secretary of State assistance for prisoners in Islamic Republic of Iran

(a) Statement of policyIt is the policy of the United States that—(1) the Islamic Republic of Iran should allow the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran unimpeded access to facilitate the full implementation of the mandate of the United Nations Special Rapporteur, including—(A) investigating alleged violations of human rights that are occurring or have occurred both within prisons and elsewhere; (B) transmitting urgent appeals and letters to the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding alleged violations of human rights; and (C) engaging with relevant stakeholders in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the surrounding region; (2) the Islamic Republic of Iran should immediately end violations of the human rights of political prisoners or persons imprisoned for exercising the right to freedom of speech, including—(A) torture; (B) denial of access to health care; and (C) denial of a fair trial; (3) all prisoners of conscience and political prisoners in the Islamic Republic of Iran should be unconditionally and immediately released; (4) all diplomatic tools of the United States should be invoked to ensure that all prisoners of conscience and political prisoners in the Islamic Republic of Iran are released, including raising individual cases of particular concern; and (5) all officials of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran who are responsible for human rights abuses in the form of politically motivated imprisonment should be held to account, including through the imposition of sanctions pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.) and other applicable statutory authorities of the United States. (b) Assistance for prisonersThe Secretary of State is authorized to continue to provide assistance to civil society organizations that support prisoners of conscience and political prisoners in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including organizations that—(1) work to secure the release of such prisoners; (2) document violations of human rights with respect to such prisoners; (3) support international advocacy to raise awareness of issues relating to such prisoners; (4) support the health, including mental health, of such prisoners; and (5) provide post-incarceration assistance to enable such prisoners to resume normal lives, including access to education, employment, or other forms of reparation. (c) DefinitionsIn this section:(1) The term “political prisoner” means a person who has been detained or imprisoned on politically motivated grounds. (2) The term “prisoner of conscience” means a person who—(A) is imprisoned or otherwise physically restricted solely in response to the peaceful exercise of the human rights of such person; and (B) has not used violence or advocated violence or hatred.

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