Frequently Asked Questions

661. What does General License 9H authorize with respect to Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) debt and equity and what are the implications for U.S. and non-U.S. persons?

General License (GL) 9H authorizes U.S. persons to engage in all transactions prohibited by subsection 1(a)(iii) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13808 or by E.O. 13850 , each as amended by E.O. 13857 , or by E.O. 13884 , as collectively incorporated into the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part… Read more

1246. Does General License 52 authorize the sale of certain shares of CITGO that are the subject of Crystallex International Corporation v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela?

No. A specific license will be required before any sale is executed in the Crystallex case. Notwithstanding the existence of any general licenses under the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations (VSR), a specific license from OFAC is required for the entry into a settlement agreement, or for the… Read more

1245. What activities are authorized by Venezuela General License (GL) 52, "Authorizing Certain Transactions Involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A."?

GL 52 authorizes, subject to its conditions and exclusions, transactions prohibited by Executive Orders (E.O.s) 13884 or 13850 with Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) and any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest (collectively, "PdVSA Entities"), by… Read more

662. What does General License 3I authorize with respect to Government of Venezuela debt, and what are the implications for U.S. and non-U.S. persons?

General License 3I (GL 3I) authorizes U.S. persons to engage in all transactions related to, the provision of financing for, and other dealings in the bonds specified in the Annex to GL 3I (GL 3I Bonds) that would be prohibited by subsection 1(a)(iii) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13808 or by E.O.… Read more

1247. Do non-U.S. persons face sanctions risk for engaging in transactions authorized by General Licenses (GL) 46B, 51A, and 52?

No, provided that non-U.S. persons comply with certain conditions outlined in GLs 46B , 51A , and 52 , as described below. Subject to certain conditions, GLs 46B, 51A, and 52 authorize established U.S. entities to engage in certain transactions involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), as… Read more

956. For the Belarus, Russian Harmful Foreign Activities (Russia) Ukraine-/Russia-related, and Venezuela-related sanctions programs, how does OFAC view modifications to pre-existing loans, contracts, or other agreements to replace London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) as the reference rate?

In July 2017, the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced the "future cessation and loss of representativeness" of the ICE Benchmark Administration's 35 global reference rates, the LIBOR rates. In light of the discontinuation of LIBOR as a benchmark reference rate, OFAC is… Read more

1118. As of December 2022, the Government of the Russian Federation may require a so-called "exit tax" payment prior to the divestment of assets located in the Russian Federation, potentially requiring transactions involving the Central Bank of the Russian Federation or the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. Do U.S. sanctions prohibit the payment of this so-called "exit tax"? Does Russia-related General License (GL) 13Q authorize transactions that involve the payment of this exit tax?

Directive 4 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, "Prohibitions Related to Transactions Involving the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation," as amended (Russia-related Sovereign Transactions… Read more

999. What authorizations exist for entities subject to Directive 4 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, "Prohibitions Related to Transactions Involving the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation," as amended (Russia-related Sovereign Transactions Directive)?

OFAC issued Russia-related General License (GL) 132 to authorize transactions involving the Paks II civil nuclear power plant project in Hungary, including those involving the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, that would be prohibited by the Russia-related Sovereign Transactions Directive.… Read more

1248. Since January 2026, OFAC has issued a series of Venezuela-related General Licenses related to purchases and investment in Venezuela's natural resource sectors, such as Venezuela-related General Licenses (GLs) 48A and 50A, that include a reporting requirement. Which parties are responsible for providing such reports pursuant to those General Licenses?

In general, the parties engaged in the primary authorized activity are responsible for complying with the applicable reporting requirements in these Venezuela-related GLs. Parties that are only indirectly involved or providing services ancillary to the primary authorized activity are not required… Read more

1249. Are "toll" payments to Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz authorized?

No. Payments to the Government of Iran or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), directly or indirectly, for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would not be authorized for U.S. persons, including U.S. financial institutions, or for U.S.-owned or -controlled foreign entities. Such… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence