Frequently Asked Questions

OFAC implemented State's designation of Ansarallah ("the Houthis") as an FTO by updating the existing Ansarallah entry on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). Ansarallah was already listed on the SDN List as a result of State's February 16, 2024 designation of the… Read more

The E.O. of June 30, 2025 removes sanctions on Syria, effective July 1, 2025, while maintaining sanctions on Bashar al-Assad and certain other destabilizing regional actors. Specifically, the E.O. revokes the following six E.O.s that form the foundation of the Syrian Sanctions Program and… Read more

Yes. All Syrian financial institutions, including the Central Bank of Syria, have been removed from OFAC's List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List). Effective July 1, 2025, U.S. persons are not prohibited from providing financial services to Syria, processing payments… Read more

No. The United States no longer maintains comprehensive sanctions on Syria, effective July 1, 2025, following the issuance of the E.O. of June 30, 2025 . You may send U.S.-origin food or medicine to Syria without a specific license from OFAC. Furthermore, the Department of Commerce maintains… Read more

Yes. While Syria GL 25 authorizes transactions otherwise prohibited under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations, it also authorizes transactions involving specified persons otherwise prohibited by certain other sanctions programs. To the extent necessary, persons may continue to rely on GL 25 and the… Read more

Wind down transactions:   GL 27 authorizes all transactions prohibited by the GTSR that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of any transaction involving Fly Baghdad through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, March 22, 2024, provided that any payment to Fly Baghdad must be made… Read more

On February 15, 2024, OFAC, in consultation with the Department of State, amended the NKSR to modify an existing general license (GL) and add three new GLs to facilitate humanitarian-related and other activities in North Korea.  These changes include: Additional non-governmental organization (NGO)… Read more

Yes, subject to certain conditions and limitations.  NGOs may engage in transactions with the Government of North Korea to the extent ordinarily incident and necessary to the activities authorized by § 510.512(a).  Such transactions may not include partnerships and partnership agreements with… Read more

To be eligible for the NGO GL, an NGO must first submit a report to the U.S. Department of State via email to DPRK-NGO-GL-Notification-DL@state.gov no fewer than 30 days before the commencement of their activities, with one of the following:  (1) a copy of approval by the UN Security Council 1718… Read more

No.  The general license for the exportation or reexportation of certain agricultural and medical items at § 510.521 of the North Korea Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 510, does not authorize the exportation or reexportation to North Korea of luxury goods, including tobacco, as set forth in 15… Read more