Quake relief: US says no bar on donations for Iran

US citizens can donate food and medicine to Iran without fear of prosecution.

WASHINGTON: The United States said Monday that its citizens can donate food and medicine to Iran without fear of prosecution after the heavily sanctioned nation was hit by twin earthquakes. President Barack Obama’s administration has offered US assistance to Iranian victims of Saturday’s disaster, despite its campaign of economic sanctions against the clerical regime over its contested nuclear program. “Our hearts go out to those people who are affected,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. “Americans wishing to provide humanitarian assistance to Iranians during this time may donate food and medicine without obtaining an Iranian transactions regulations license,” she said, referring to sanctions exemptions.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 15^th, 2012.