CRAWFORD, Jan 1: Citing Iran's "extraordinary humanitarian needs," the United States on Wednesday temporarily suspended restrictions on money and equipment meant to help the Islamic republic recover from last week's devastating earthquake.

"The Iranian people deserve and need the assistance of the international community to help them recover," White House spokesman Trent Duffy said in a statement. "The American people want to help."

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a general license temporarily enabling US citizens and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to send money to aid activities in and around the stricken city of Bam.

Donations of items like food, certain medecines, clothing, and tents do not require a licence, Duffy said in a statement released here while US President George W. Bush ushered in the new year at his nearby ranch.

The US State Department said it was issuing additional licenses allowing the US government and US NGOs to export to Iran sensitive items like transportation equipment, satellite telephones, and radio and personal computing items.

"After consultation with Congress, the Secretary of State determined that, due to the extraordinary humanitarian needs created by the earthquake, it is in the national interest of the United States," to allow such exports, the State Department's number two spokesman, Adam Ereli, said in a statement.

The general license, valid for three months from last Saturday, allows US citizens to make direct contributions of US dollars to Iranian and other organizations for such relief.

"Effective December 27, 2003, United States persons are authorized for a ninety-day period to make donations of funds to non-governmental organizations in direct support of humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts being undertaken in Iran in response to the earthquake in Bam," Treasury said.-AFP