Frequently Asked Questions

304. Are there exceptions to insuring, reinsuring, or underwriting sanctioned activities?

304 … Yes. IFCA includes the following exceptions to insuring, reinsuring, or underwriting sanctioned activities. a. Transactions for the sale of agricultural commodities, food, medicine, or medical devices to Iran or for the provision of humanitarian assistance to the people of Iran can be insured… Read more

417. Are payments or the facilitation of payments not involving U.S. persons to Iranian civil aviation authorities for overflights of Iran or landing in Iran by aircraft that are owned by a non-U.S. person and registered outside the United States sanctionable under U.S. law?

417 … No. Provided that the relevant transactions do not involve the U.S. financial system or persons on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List ( SDN List ), payments of charges for services rendered by the Government of Iran in connection with the overflight of Iran or… Read more

455. Is the provision of routine goods and services by non-U.S. persons to diplomatic missions of the Government of Iran located outside the United States sanctionable under U.S. law?

455 … The provision of goods and services for the conduct of the official business of the diplomatic missions of the Government of Iran located outside the United States or for the personal use of the employees of the missions, including financial services such as the opening of a bank account, by… Read more

37. My bank operates accounts for individuals living in Iran. OFAC has told us that these accounts cannot be operated. Does this mean that the accounts are blocked?

37 … No, the accounts are restricted. The Iranian sanctions prohibit the export of goods or services to Iran. By operating an account for an individual or company in Iran, the bank would be exporting services to that person or entity in violation of the Iranian Transactions Regulations. The… Read more

38. Are U-Turn payments for Iran still permitted?

38 … No, as of November 10, 2008 U-Turn payments are no longer allowed. … Are U-Turn payments for Iran still permitted? …

318. Does the GL for medical devices authorize the exportation or reexportation of all medical devices?

318 … No. The GL for medical devices appearing at section 560.530 (a)(3)(i) of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations ( ITSR ) authorizes covered persons, as defined in section 560.530(e)(4), to export or reexport to Iran medical devices as defined in section 560.530(e)(3) of the ITSR,… Read more

319. Does the GL for medical devices authorize the exportation or reexportation of these items to all entities in Iran?

319 … No. While the GL under section 560.530 (a)(3)(i) of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations ( ITSR ) authorizes exports or reexports of certain medical devices to most entities in Iran, it does not authorize exports or reexports to military, intelligence, or law enforcement… Read more

361. What items and persons are excluded from the agricultural commodities general license in the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR)?

361 … The specified items excluded from the scope of the agricultural commodities general license are: castor beans, castor bean seeds, certified pathogen-free eggs (unfertilized or fertilized), dried egg albumin, live animals (excluding live cattle, shrimp, and shrimp eggs), embryos (excluding… Read more

362. Is the exportation or reexportation of non-U.S.-origin agricultural commodities, medicine, or medical devices by a U.S. person to Iran authorized?

362 … Yes. The definitions of the terms “agricultural commodities,” “medicine,” and “medical device” used in the relevant general licenses in the ITSR include, in the case of items subject to Commerce's Export Administration Regulations (EAR), items that are designated as EAR99 and, in the case of… Read more

363. Is the exportation or reexportation by non-U.S. persons of agricultural commodities, medicine, or medical devices that are subject to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to Iran authorized?

363 … Yes. A non-U.S. person may export or reexport agricultural commodities, medicine, or medical devices to Iran under the relevant general licenses in the ITSR , provided that the items are subject to Commerce's Export Administration Regulations (EAR); and all conditions of the relevant general… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence