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EO 13553Executive OrderObama · D

Executive Order 13553

Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to Serious Human Rights Abuses by the Government of Iran and Taking Certain Other Actions

This executive order blocks the property of Iranian officials and entities responsible for serious human rights abuses since June 12, 2009, and imposes related visa sanctions. It delegates implementation authority to the Secretaries of Treasury and State under existing statutory frameworks including IEEPA and CISADA.

Federal Register Open PDF 75 FR 60567

Impact dates

  1. Initial congressional list submission of persons subject to visa sanctions and property blocking

  2. Order effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time

Key directives

  • Block all property and interests in property of designated persons in U.S. jurisdiction
  • Prohibit donations, contributions, and provision of funds/goods/services to or from designated persons
  • Prohibit evasion, avoidance, or conspiracy to violate order prohibitions
  • Authorize Treasury Secretary to promulgate rules and regulations for implementation
  • Authorize State Secretary to impose visa sanctions under CISADA section 105(c)
  • Require State Secretary to submit initial and updated sanctioned persons lists to congressional committees
  • Authorize Treasury Secretary to delist Annex persons if circumstances warrant

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • Property blocking effective 12:01 a.m. EDT September 29, 2010
  • Listed persons in Annex immediately subject to sanctions
  • Prohibitions on transfers, payments, exports, withdrawals take effect

Near term (90d)

  • Treasury/State promulgation of implementing rules and regulations
  • Initial congressional list submissions of sanctioned persons
  • Potential designations of additional persons under criteria in Section 1(a)(ii)

Long term

  • Ongoing sanctions enforcement and compliance monitoring
  • Potential delisting determinations under Section 9
  • Continued visa sanctions implementation
  • Integration with broader Iran sanctions architecture

Risks & tensions

  • Vague: No explicit statutory deadline for initial congressional list submission; CISADA section 105(b) timing not specified in EO text
  • Broad delegation to Treasury/Secretary for designation criteria creates implementation uncertainty
  • Retroactive applicability to June 12, 2009 raises potential due process concerns addressed through Section 4's no-prior-notice determination
  • Section 11's Algiers Accords disclaimer suggests defensive legal positioning against potential Iranian claims
  • Overlap with existing EO 12957 emergency framework may complicate sanctions architecture clarity
Executive Order 13553: Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to Serious Human Rights Abuses by the Government of Iran and Taking Certain Other Actions · Executive Orders