May U.S. persons employ agents in Iran to facilitate sales, create or fund a physical sales presence on the ground in Iran, or utilize Iranian commercial marketing services in furtherance of exports authorized under 31 CFR § 560.540 of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR)?
OFAC's answer
No. Section [560.540](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-31/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-560) of the ITSR does not authorize the employment of persons in Iran to facilitate sales, the maintenance of a physical sales presence in Iran, or the utilization of Iranian marketing services. However, the exportation of certain copy-ready advertising materials is exempt from the prohibitions of the [ITSR](https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=e3c4494665db57ce61ce4c1445726e8e&mc=true&r=PART&n=pt31.3.560) to the extent they qualify as information or informational materials pursuant to 31 CFR § [560.210](https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=e3c4494665db57ce61ce4c1445726e8e&mc=true&r=PART&n=pt31.3.560#se31.3.560_1210)(c). Date Updated: May 16, 2024