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Can I send money to someone in Iran?

Is there a way to get around sanctions to send money to loved ones?

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Adrienne Fuller

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The US has the discretion to grant you special permission to send money to family members in countries like Iran. You must be able to prove that your funds are not for commercial purposes, and how much you send could be limited. Refer to the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations for more information.

Sanctions and Iran

The US sanctioned Iran after the Iranian Revolution in 1979, further expanding economic sanctions when Iran refused to give up its uranium enrichment program for nuclear weapons. The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control severely limits US citizens from committing funds or other financial assets in Iran.

However, U.S. depository institutions are allowed to handle funds transfers, through intermediary third-country banks, to or from Iran noncommercial family remittances and travel-related remittances, among others. But add to this the fact that people in the US are prohibited from dealing with some specific Iranian banks due to their links with financing terrorism and it quickly becomes apparent that sending funds to Iran is very difficult.

Most US banks will not handle a transfer to Iran for you, and popular money transfer providers like Western Union and MoneyGram don’t offer their services to Iran. Even if you can find a money transfer willing to help you send money to Iran you will then need to be very careful about the purpose of the transfer.

There are several complex rules and regulations surrounding money transfers to Iran and there have been some highly publicized cases of people unwittingly falling foul of the law. Obtaining advice from the Office of Foreign Assets Control before sending a transfer is recommended.

Can I send money to someone in a country with sanctions?

Must read: Section 560.550 Certain noncommercial, personal remittances to or from Iran authorized

According to the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations by the US Treasury:
“(a) In cases in which the transfer involves a noncommercial, personal remittance, the transfer of funds to or from Iran or for or on behalf of an individual ordinarily resident in Iran, other than an individual whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 560.211, is authorized, provided that the transfer is processed by a United States depository institution or a United States registered broker or dealer in securities and not by any other U.S. person; does not involve debiting or crediting an Iranian account; and is not by, to, or through the Government of Iran, as defined in § 560.304.

(b) Noncommercial, personal remittances do not include charitable donations to or for the benefit of an entity or funds transfers for use in supporting or operating a business, including a family-owned enterprise.”

This means that for the average sender, getting permission to send money to Iran is going to be difficult, but not impossible. By consulting legal help, it is possible to appeal to the US Treasury and get permission to send remittances to family and loved onan — just be prepared for a potentially lengthy process.

Sending money to sanctioned countries — and the potential consequences

There are ways that people have chosen to get around these economic sanctions. But we stress that doing so is illegal and exposes you to severe legal and financial penalties. If you choose to route your money through a country that doesn’t have sanctions against your intended destination — the UK, for example — you could be charged by the US with money laundering.

What is money laundering?

Money laundering is any activity that illegally obtains money and attempts to conceal the source, destination or identity of those funds. In the US, money laundering is illegal under federal and state laws. The specific laws about what constitutes money laundering and its prosecution may differ. However, if you’re convicted of money laundering crimes, you face years in prison and significant fines.

One option for sending money to Iran commonly touted on online forums is to first send your money to a friend or relative in the UK, from where it can then be sent on to your beneficiary in Iran (transfers between the UK and Iran are allowed but restricted).

But this option is definitely not recommended as it raises the possibility of money laundering, and depending on where you live it may even be illegal. If you hold a bank account in another country as a resident of that nation, research the rules in place for sending money to a sanctioned nation from that account.

Foreign exchange rates explained

The exchange rate determines how much one country’s currency is worth in another currency. When a country’s currency is strong, it yields more money when exchanging it in a country with a weak currency.

However, most countries’ exchange rates are flexible, which means they can fluctuate with the market. Factors that influence the exchange rate include interest rates, economic stability and inflation.

When in doubt

If you’re in doubt as to whether you can send money to a sanctioned country, always assume that transferring funds from the US to a sanctioned nation is illegal unless a lawyer tells you otherwise. As the US Treasury advises, “You cannot do something indirectly that you would not be able to do directly.” For more information about sending money to Iran, look into your state’s laws on money laundering, the US Treasury’s updated list of sanctioned nations and the laws that dictate where your bank can make transfers.

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Adrienne Fuller is the former head of publishing at Finder US. With a decade of experience creating guides in finance and education, she aimed to deliver the accurate and transparent information she wished she had when she made some of life's important financial decisions. Adrienne has a BA from Colorado College and loves to hike with her two Catahoula dogs. See full bio

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29 Responses

    Trayz's avatar
    TrayzMay 9, 2018

    Which of the country can Iran send money to?

      Awsi's avatar
      AwsiMay 31, 2018

      My friend wants to send me money from juba South Sudan to Iran what money transfer company can he use? And or if he send from Uganda ?

      joelmarcelo's avatar
      joelmarceloJune 1, 2018

      Hi Awsi,

      Thanks for leaving a question on finder.

      There are multiple ways in sending funds to Iran.

      The US sanctioned Iran after the Iranian Revolution in 1979, further expanding economic sanctions when Iran refused to give up its uranium enrichment program for nuclear weapons. The US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control severely limits US citizens from committing funds or other financial assets in Iran.

      You may want to send this link from where I commented to your friend so he can weigh his options.

      Cheers,
      Joel

      Jhezelyn's avatarFinder
      JhezelynMay 9, 2018Finder

      Hello Trayz,

      Thank you for your comment.

      You can send money from Iran to various countries as long as it is still part of the scope of the money transfer service that you used to send money. Many exchange offices can transfer money for you (to bank account) and they will charge you for some commission. Check with the transfer company and see the countries you may be able to send money to. You’re welcome.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

    Talha's avatar
    TalhaDecember 7, 2017

    My friend wants to send me $500 from Iran to Pakistan, but he can’t find any place to send. Someone, please help and guide me through this.

      Rench's avatarFinder
      RenchDecember 7, 2017Finder

      Hi Talha,

      Thanks for reaching out to us. Please note that we are not affiliated with any company we feature on our site and so we can only offer you general advice.

      There are money transfer services to Pakistan. Check with your friend if the same money transfer services are available in Iran.

      Kind regards,
      Rench

    me's avatar
    meDecember 2, 2017

    Other ways to transfer money to Iran are e-currencies like “Webmoney, OKPay, AdvCash” . they don’t have problem with Iran. I used them.

    Shahin's avatar
    ShahinMarch 15, 2017

    How do I can be sending mony from Italy to Iran ?

      Harold's avatarFinder
      HaroldJuly 13, 2017Finder

      Hi Shahin,

      Thank you for your inquiry.

      While, the world’s politics can stand in the way of your help to friends and family in sanctioned countries (like Iran), sending money is quite tricky.

      One option for sending money to Iran commonly touted on online forums is to first send your money to a friend or relative in the UK, from where it can then be sent on to your beneficiary in Iran (transfers between the UK and Iran are allowed but restricted). But this option is definitely not recommended as it raises the possibility of money laundering, and depending on where you live it may even be illegal.

      I hope this information has helped.

      Cheers,
      Harold

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