Five Senators ask Tillerson to ease Iran sanctions to aid earthquake victims

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) - As US President Donald Trump remains entirely silent on the earthquake that killed over 500 in the Kurdish regions of Iran and Iraq, five Senators wrote to the Secretary of State Tillerson to allow aids reach those in need.

Senator Bernie Sanders and four Democratic senators demanded that the State Department partially wave sanctions on Iran to assist the estimated 70,00 people who lost their homes following the 7.3-magnitude quake on Sunday.

"After earthquakes in 2003 and 2012, the United States demonstrated its compassion and goodwill by offering assistance to the Iranian people and allowing private relief donations," the senators wrote. "This time should be no different."

While the 7.3 magnitude quake affected both Iran and Iraq, Iran bore the brunt of the overall destruction and casualties.

Under the current sanctions regime, Iranian-Americans living in the U.S. are prohibited from delivering funds to their friends and family members.

Al Jazeera reported on Thursday, several attempts by Iranian-Americans to set up fundraisers for Iran in the days following the earthquake have been stymied by U.S. Treasury Department rules.

"The way it is now, it is extremely difficult," Tara Kangarlou, a New York-based Iranian-American journalist, said of the economic restrictions. "These are the moments that you realize how political tug of war are hurting ordinary Iranians."

"After earthquakes in 2003 and 2012, the United States demonstrated its compassion and goodwill by offering assistance to the Iranian people and allowing private relief donations," the Senators wrote.

"The administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama both temporarily waived sanctions, and the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued general licenses to simplify aid delivery," the letter added.

Mr. Trump and White House have been completely silent on the tragedy.

"Despite decades of animosity and no formal diplomatic relations, the United States has routinely offered to help the Iranian people in times of need. This time should be no different. We ask that you direct the Department of State to assist in aid efforts and to coordinate such efforts with OFAC and other relevant agencies in order to ensure aid arrives quickly," they wrote.

The Iranian Red Crescent said it had reached 90 percent of the areas affected by the quake. But donating to it from the US is not possible as the organization is not among those with an OFAC authorization.

There are smaller humanitarian organizations allowed by the US to carry out relief efforts in Iran, and Parsi encouraged people to contribute to groups such as Moms Against Poverty (MAP), Child Foundation, Children of Persia and Relief International.