The United States Tuesday eased restrictions on financial transactions with Iran to allow donations of money to help victims of the August 11 earthquake, dpa reported.
Nongovernmental organizations have already been sending material aid of food, medicine and other items without special license. The US government has offered the same, but Iran has not accepted it, the US Treasury department noted.
Under a general license, a nongovernmental organization will be able to transfer up to 300,000 dollars during the 45-day period ending October 5, the Treasury said. Any sum over that will require a special license.
The Treasury Department warned that the money may not be sent to the government of Iran or any Iranian individual or entity on the sanctions list. The US and Europe have in place crippling sanctions against Iran that also affect its ability to export oil in their efforts to force Tehran to come clean about its nuclear programme.
"The general license is a demonstration of the administration's commitment to supporting the Iranian people affected by this tragedy, and responds to the American people's desire to provide immediate assistance," the department said.
At least 300 people died and 5,000 were injured in the earthquake.