WASHINGTON – The Obama administration is temporarily easing sanctions on Iran to allow Americans to donate money to U.S.-based charities providing direct assistance to victims of deadly twin earthquakes that hit the country earlier this month.
The Treasury Department announced Tuesday that it would authorize aid groups to transfer up to $300,000 to Iran for earthquake relief over the next 45 days, provided the money is routed through a foreign bank and does not go to or benefit any individual or entity that is subject to existing U.S. sanctions.
American citizens were already able to make individual donations of food and medicine to Iranian earthquake victims without violating U.S. sanctions.
More than 300 people were killed and 3,000 injured in the quakes that hit northwest Iran on August 11.
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