---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 8531"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "8531"
heading: "Definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/8531"
units:
  - "Chapter 92 — Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment"
  - "Subchapter II — Divestment from Certain Companies That Invest in Iran"
---

# §8531. Definitions


In this subchapter:

- (1) **Energy sector of Iran—** The term “energy sector of Iran” refers to activities to develop petroleum or natural gas resources or nuclear power in [Iran](#3).
- (2) **Financial institution—** The term “financial institution” has the meaning given that term in section 14 of the [Iran](#3) Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–172; [50 U.S.C. 1701](/usc/50/1701.md) note).
- (3) **Iran—** The term “Iran” includes the Government of Iran and any agency or instrumentality of Iran.
- (4) **Person—** The term “person” means—
  - (A) a natural [person](#4), corporation, company, business association, partnership, society, trust, or any other nongovernmental entity, organization, or group;
  - (B) any governmental entity or instrumentality of a government, including a multilateral development institution (as defined in [section 262r(c)(3) of this title](/usc/22/262r.md?p=c-3)); and
  - (C) any successor, subunit, parent entity, or subsidiary of, or any entity under common ownership or control with, any entity described in subparagraph [(A)](#4-A) or [(B)](#4-B).
- (5) **State—** The term “[State](/usc/22/8511.md?p=9)” means each of the several [States](/usc/22/8511.md?p=9), the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States.
- (6) **State or local government—** The term “State or local government” includes—
  - (A) any [State](/usc/22/8511.md?p=9) and any agency or instrumentality thereof;
  - (B) any local government within a [State](/usc/22/8511.md?p=9), and any agency or instrumentality thereof;
  - (C) any other governmental instrumentality of a [State](/usc/22/8511.md?p=9) or locality; and
  - (D) any public institution of higher education within the meaning of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ([20 U.S.C. 1001](/usc/20/1001.md) et seq.).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–195, title II, § 201, July 1, 2010, 124 Stat. 1341.)

## Notes

### Termination of Section

For termination of section, see section 8551(a) of this title.

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This subchapter, referred to in text, was in the original “this title”, meaning Pub. L. 111–195, title II, July 1, 2010, 124 Stat. 1341, which enacted this subchapter, amended section 80a–13 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade, enacted provisions set out as notes under section 80a–13 of Title 15, and amended provisions set out as a note under section 1701 of Title 50, War and National Defense. For complete classification of title II to the Code, see Tables.

The Higher Education Act of 1965, referred to in par. (6)(D), is Pub. L. 89–329, Nov. 8, 1965, 79 Stat. 1219, which is classified generally to chapter 28 (§ 1001 et seq.) of Title 20, Education. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1001 of Title 20 and Tables.