393. Does OFAC consider counterparty credit risk associated with derivatives transactions that are authorized pursuant to General License 1B to Executive Order 13662 to constitute new debt?

OFAC does not consider normal counterparty credit exposure encountered by a U.S. person to be an extension of credit when the U.S. person enters into an otherwise permissible derivatives transaction.  U.S. persons engaging in such transactions should ensure that they do not hold, purchase, or sell the underlying asset in such transactions as described in Paragraph (b) of General License 1B.