22 U.S.C. § 9411: Presidential waiver authority

The President may waive, on a case-by-case basis and for a period of not more than 180 days, a requirement under section 9403, 9404, 9405, 9406, or 9407 of this title to impose or maintain sanctions with respect to a person, and may waive the continued imposition of such sanctions, not less than 30 days after the President determines and reports to the appropriate congressional committees that it is vital to the national security interests of the United States to waive such sanctions. The President may, on a case-by-case basis, renew a waiver under paragraph (1) for an additional period of not more than 180 days if, not later than 15 days before that waiver expires, the President makes the determination and submits to the appropriate congressional committees a report described in paragraph (1). The renewal authority provided under paragraph (2) may be exercised for additional successive periods of not more than 180 days if the President follows the procedures set forth in paragraph (2), and submits the report described in paragraph (1), for each such renewal. a specific and detailed rationale for the determination that the waiver is vital to the national security interests of the United States; a description of the activity that resulted in the person being subject to sanctions; an explanation of any efforts made by the United States, as applicable, to secure the cooperation of the government with primary jurisdiction over the person or the location where the activity described in paragraph (2) occurred in terminating or, as appropriate, penalizing the activity; and an assessment of the significance of the activity described in paragraph (2) in contributing to the ability of Iran to threaten the interests of the United States or allies of the United States, develop systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction, support acts of international terrorism, or violate the human rights of any person in Iran. If the President submits a report under subsection (a) in connection with a waiver of sanctions under section 9403, 9404, 9405, 9406, or 9407 of this title with respect to a person, or the renewal of such a waiver, the President shall not be required to impose or maintain sanctions under section 9403, 9404, 9405, 9406, or 9407 of this title, as applicable, with respect to the person described in the report during the 30-day period referred to in subsection (a).