UANI

Clearstream is a unit of Deutsche Boerse Group

"Deutsche Boerse AG said U.S. regulators may fine its Clearstream settlement unit as much as $340 million over possible violations of sanctions against Iran.  Clearstream has started talks on a deal with the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control related to securities transfers within its settlement system in 2008, the Frankfurt-based exchange said in a statement today. Deutsche Boerse shares rose 0.2 percent to 47.03 euros at the close of trading in Frankfurt. Standard Chartered Plc agreed to pay $327 million in fines last month, including $132 million to OFAC, after regulators said it violated U.S. sanctions with Iran. Britain's second- largest bank by market value was accused of helping Iran launder about $250 billion in violation of federal laws, keeping false records and handling wire transfers for Iranian clients." (Bloomberg, "Deutsche Boerse Faces $340 Million Fine Over Iran," 01/09/13)

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"The Senate and the House of Representatives are drafting bills that would seek to blacklist essentially every Iranian bank. The U.S. Treasury has blacklisted 18 Iranian banks, but lawmakers say Tehran is using more than 20 other banks to finance its nuclear program and its support for militant groups, such as Hamas in the Palestinian territories and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Treasury Department officials said Wednesday that they have blacklisted 23 Iranian financial institutions in actions taken against banks and other firms. Congressional officials said the new legislation will also target communications, software and technology companies that continue to do business with Iranian banks. Possible targets include Deutsche Börse AG's Clearstream unit and Belgium-based Euroclear Group, which are believed to facilitate financial transactions for Iran's central bank. Clearstream didn't respond to requests to comment." (The Wall Street Journal, "U.S. to Probe Iran's Commitment to Talk," 3/7/2012)