U.S.-Iran Engagement in Science, Engineering, and Health (2010-2016) A Resilient Program but an Uncertain Future (2017) / Chapter Skim
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4 Overcoming Barriers to Cooperation
4 Overcoming Barriers to Cooperation
Pages 67-86
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From page 67... ...
citizens should stay current with media coverage of local events and carefully reconsider non-essential travel." This commentary began the travel advisory of the Department of State (the department) on its website in March 2016, shortly after the release from prison in Tehran of three dual-national Americans.1 For many years, such travel warnings concerning visits to Iran have dampened enthusiasm of even the most adventurous American scientists to consider visiting colleagues in Iran.
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From page 68... ...
Visas were not an issue for Iranian-American scientists who held two passports; and the National Academies regularly learned from these scientists, who were traveling privately, about opportunities for science engagement. Also, Iranian invitations for American scientists to speak at important international conferences in Iran were usually followed up by the hosts as soon as the invitees accepted the invitations with prompt visa arrangements, even with deadlines of only several weeks between receipt of invitations and 2 The short-term detention and interrogation of a member of the science staff of the National Academies, who was facilitating an exchange visit in Tehran in 2008, is described in Glenn E
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From page 69... ...
Many American scientists travel to Iran each year pursuant to their own initiative or under the programming of tourist agencies. From time to time, they alert Iranian acquaintances of their arrivals or they succeed in having their tour guides arrange meetings with Iranian counterparts.
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From page 70... ...
COMPLIANCE WITH ECONOMIC SANCTIONS This section documents the efforts of the National Academies from 2000 to 2016 to comply with the regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of Treasury.
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Estimates are that billions of dollars in assets fell under this impoundment order, although details of financial holdings at the time are not readily available. Quickly the financial freeze was extended to encompass a complete trade embargo.7 In 1981, the United States and Iran reached an agreement on release of the diplomat-hostages.
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From page 72... ...
The European restrictions have included the following approaches that have edged toward the realm of science-engagement: embargoes on dual-use technologies; embargoes on services in the fields of chemicals, electronics, sensors, and avionics; bans on transfer of oil and gas technologies; and export controls on sensitive goods, technologies, and services.10 Adding to the kaleidoscope of sanctions are the U.N. Security Council restrictions, which reflect many of the foregoing concerns and also include the interception of banned goods en route to or from Iran.11 Important Milestones in Limiting Science Engagement The interested scientific institutions and individuals in the two countries that participate or would like to participate in exchanges consider sanctions a significant impediment to development of professional interactions.
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From page 73... ...
government of $5 million to relief efforts following the Bam earthquake mentioned in Chapter 3.13 • 2004: OFAC issued a general license for publishing activities that had previously required case-by-case licenses in response to a request from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, which was supported by a number of other U.S. organizations.
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From page 74... ...
However, these decisions were subsequently changed in the wake of the OFAC general license for publishing activities and of vigorous protests from American scientists.16 • 2006: The American Chemical Society informed 34 Iranian mem bers of the society that their memberships were terminated since they were receiving membership services at reduced costs (e.g., reduced-cost attendance at society meetings and free participation in society training activities) in violation of sanction-based regula tions.
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From page 75... ...
faculty involved in higher education in Iran.22 • 2013: OFAC announced that it had adopted a favorable licensing policy for activities that are designed to benefit the Iranian people through exchange programs, including educational and academic exchanges. License applications may be necessary, but presumably they would receive more favorable and more expedited consider ation than in the past.23 • 2013: OFAC issued a general license for personal communications that authorized American scientists and other professionals to take to Iran their laptops and other personal computing devices.
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From page 76... ...
activities, and (b) non-degree courses and also non-fee programs that involve access to Massive Online Open Courses, with content equivalent to content of undergraduate STEM courses.27 • 2014: OFAC issued a general license to facilitate personal contacts with colleagues in Iran that authorizes use of certain communica tion services, use of publicly available software and hardware, and involvement in publishing related activities that are incident to personal communications.28 Many other details about OFAC views and positions are set forth in OFAC's responses to individual applications for licenses.
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6. Shady Iranian firms have expanded illicit activities, and black market activities have thrived in search of technologies of U.S.
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Such activities are now usually characterized as services, and the necessity to obtain OFAC licenses has become a strong deterrent that at times squelches U.S. professional enthusiasm for attempting to travel to Iranian universities.31 2.
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In short, purchases of advanced pollution control technology from abroad has been difficult, even when Iranian funds are allocated for this purpose.33 More broadly, the widespread economic effects of sanctions buttress a belief of many Iranian officials that the West is trying to deny Iran access to technologies in all fields of endeavor as proclaimed by the Supreme Leader.34 While Iran has resorted to many approaches to limit the impacts, particularly resorting to trade based on barter rather than cash, the economic squeeze has been felt at all levels of society. Still, it may be an exaggeration to call the 32 Siamak Namazi, "Sanctions and Medical Supply Shortages in Iran," Woodrow Wilson International Center, Washington, D.C., April 2013.
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OBTAINING OFAC LICENSES In 2000, the National Academies together with the Iranian Academy of Sciences and Iranian Academy of Medicine agreed to sponsor four workshops on selected scientific topics as soon as possible. All of the workshops could have been held without licenses, but for one unique aspect of the workshops.
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Fortunately, many months were available to obtain the four licenses; and OFAC approved all applications on time. Then, as previously noted, in 2004, OFAC issued a general license concerning joint efforts in preparing scientific publications, such as proceedings.
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In summary, at times the National Academies obtained OFAC licenses that were not required in order to (a) facilitate the issuance of U.S.
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This project was to demonstrate how personal skills of a large number of Iranian medical assistants, particularly unpaid but well-educated female medical assistants in small towns and villages, could be upgraded to cope with the maladies of food poisoning. The American specialists would learn how a centrally controlled, but regionally implemented, Iranian public health system was reducing common illnesses that plague every country.
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Export Controls." This document contains a detailed legal analysis of the regulations of the Office of Foreign Assets Control that are relevant to exchanges involving students and university faculty members.
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6. OFAC licenses are required for American universities to provide grants to Iranian universities for services related to research.
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Indeed, without more funding from the governments or private sources, significant growth in science-engagement is unlikely, regardless of the potential payoff -- scientifically, economically, or politically -- from cooperation in this sphere. Much of the attention of government agencies in Tehran and Washington in the near future will probably be focused on implementation of the provisions of the nuclear deal, which will require additional financial support for the activities set forth in the JCPOA.
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