§3171 Stay of Sanctions

Summary

The President can pause U.S. sanctions or related actions against a foreign country, group, or person if acting right away would seriously risk ruining an ongoing criminal investigation or exposing an intelligence source or method tied to the reason for the sanction. The President must tell Congress about the pause as required by section 3173. The pause lasts for the time the President sets, but it cannot exceed 120 days unless it is extended under section 3172. This authority applies even if other laws listed in section 3174 would otherwise prevent it.