Stuart Levey, the under secretary of the Treasury who is in charge of sanctions, accused the Times of “obscuring” a key fact to paint the enforcement of sanctions in a bad light.
Levey complained that the article implied the Treasury Department could decide when and when not to issue licenses for medical and food exports to Iran.
But, Levey wrote, “Under the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, Congress requires Treasury to grant licenses to American companies seeking to export agricultural commodities, medicines and medical goods to sanctioned countries.”
Levey’s letter was dated December 24, but did not run in the Times until a week and a half later on January 5.
Levey also accused the Times of making a major issue of some very insignificant sales to Iran. “While reasonable people can debate whether certain items like chewing gum or salad dressing should be within the scope of the exemptions mandated by Congress,” he wrote, “no credible observer believes that the export of a modest amount of food, medicine and other humanitarian items undermines our ability to pressure the Iranian regime.
“Indeed, our strategy of targeting Iran’s government and not its people has generated broad international buy-in and is yielding remarkable results. Iran is facing dramatic financial isolation as governments and the private sector around the world shun business,” Levey wrote.