Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : Hosting someone from Iran - State Department Issues

[Mike77]

There is a company from Iran that wants to host with us. Are there any State Department issues that would restrict us from giving technical expertise or technology to someone from a country whose political environment is anti-U.S.?

[DATARTIM]

As far as I'm aware, trade with Iran is prohibited ?

[ItsJustHosting]

I cannot see how web hosting should be prohibited, though if they are in Iran it would make more sense to get a European host, or maybe even a host in a non-hostile (to them) country like Canada.

[MikeDVB]

Legally a United States company cannot provide a service/trade with anybody from Iran last time I checked.

[314Hosting]

Originally Posted by MikeDVB

Legally a United States company cannot provide a service/trade with anybody from Iran last time I checked.

Why? Are there any more countries that are prohibited ?

[MikeDVB]

Originally Posted by Wajdan

Why? Is there any more companies that are prohibited ?

http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforce.../iran/iran.pdf

In general, a person may not export from the U.S. any goods,
technology or services, if that person knows or has reason to know
such items are intended specifically for supply, transshipment or
reexportation to Iran.

Read the whole document though.

[Jaber]

Originally Posted by MikeDVB

Legally a United States company cannot provide a service/trade with anybody from Iran last time I checked.

On US or Iranian soil?

[Mike77]

Originally Posted by MikeDVB

Legally a United States company cannot provide a service/trade with anybody from Iran last time I checked.

Here is the generalized restriction that applies:

EXPORTS TO IRAN - In general, unless licensed by OFAC, goods,
technology (including technical data or other information subject to
Export Administration Regulations), or services may not be exported,
reexported, sold or supplied, directly or indirectly, from the United
States or by a U.S. person, wherever located, to Iran or the
Government of Iran.

[KnownHost]

Originally Posted by Wajdan

Why? Are there any more countries that are prohibited ?

Yes, there are others. I can't find the link anymore but I know for example, Syria was on the list. Maybe it's changed a bit but not certain on that.

[Mike77]

Originally Posted by KnownHost

Yes, there are others. I can't find the link anymore but I know for example, Syria was on the list. Maybe it's changed a bit but not certain on that.

Here is a link to the OFAC Country Sanctions Programs:

http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/

[MikeDVB]

Originally Posted by C7mike

Here is a link to the OFAC Country Sanctions Programs:

http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/

Yep, it's where I got the PDF linked above... For the real details you should read the PDF as it's an official government document.

[Dave Parish]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_embargoes as of 07 but the links for the reasons for embargo still work.

http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/embargoe...ies/index.html

[WII-Aaron]

The regulation is poorly written as far as our industry goes so I called and asked about a year ago.

the person I talked to didn't have a good response and I don't think really knew what I was talking about. Basically she said it was illegal to send anything over to Iran. I was free to do business with Iranian citizens living in the US and I was free to do business with Iranian citizens living abroad as long as whatever I was selling wasn't being sent to or used in Iran.

Still confused? Yea... didn't definitively answer my question either.

[MikeDVB]

The way that I interpret it is that if it's an Iranian Citizen (in the country or not) that we are legally not to do business with them. I would of course err on the side of interpreting the regulations more strictly as not to put the company in any sort of jeopardy.

[CubicH-Gray]

I assume even if your company isn't an LLC, but your DC is located in US, you still can't do business?