Frequently Asked Questions

935. Does the blocking of Hidri Trust and Red Sea Trading Corporation (RSTC) restrict the ability of U.S. and non-U.S. persons to engage in humanitarian-related transactions or activity in Eritrea or Ethiopia?

No. OFAC has implemented three authorizations and an exemption under Executive Order (E.O.) 14046 to ensure that humanitarian assistance can flow to the people of Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the greater Horn of Africa region. These authorizations and exemption apply to all persons sanctioned under E.O… Read more

936. Does OFAC’s 50 Percent Rule apply to Hidri Trust and Red Sea Trading Corporation (RSTC)?

No. OFAC’s 50 Percent Rule does not apply to persons blocked solely pursuant to the blocking sanctions of E.O. 14046 . Unless an entity is itself a sanctioned person (as defined in E.O. 14046) and listed separately on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List) , it… Read more

939. What does Belarus General License 5 (GL 5), “Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Open Joint Stock Company Belarusian Potash Company or Agrorozkvit LLC,” authorize?

GL 5 authorizes, through 12:01a.m. eastern standard time, April 1, 2022, all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 14038 that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of transactions involving Open Joint Stock Company Belarusian Potash Company (BPC) or… Read more

949. Do sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on the Taliban and the Haqqani Network prohibit the sending of personal remittances to Afghanistan?

No. The Taliban are designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended . The Haqqani Network is designated as an SDGT under E.O. 13224, as amended, and a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality… Read more

951. Is Afghanistan subject to comprehensive sanctions?

No. In contrast to sanctions programs administered and enforced by OFAC with regard to North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Syria, and the Crimea and so-called Donetsk People’s Republic and Luhansk People’s Republic regions of Ukraine, there are no comprehensive sanctions on Afghanistan. Therefore, there… Read more

916. What does Executive Order (E.O.) of August 9, 2021, “Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Belarus,” do?

E.O. of August 9, 2021 expands the scope of the national emergency pertaining to Belarus declared in E.O. 13405, “Blocking Property of Certain Persons Undermining Democratic Processes or Institutions in Belarus ,” to provide additional authorities under which sanctions may be imposed against… Read more

917. Are all persons operating in sectors identified in the Executive Order (E.O.) of August 9, 2021, “Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Belarus,” blocked?

No. E.O. of August 9, 2021 authorizes the imposition of blocking sanctions on persons operating in certain identified sectors of the Belarus economy, including the defense and related materiel sector, security sector, energy sector, potassium chloride (potash) sector, tobacco products sector,… Read more

918. What does Belarus General License 4 (GL 4), “Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Belaruskali OAO,” authorize?

GL 4 authorizes, through 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, December 8, 2021, all transactions and activities prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 14038 that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the wind down of transactions involving Belaruskali OAO, or any entity in which Belaruskali OAO owns… Read more

952. When operating in Afghanistan, how can I tell who is a member of the Taliban or the Haqqani Network, which are designated are Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) under U.S. counter terrorism sanctions?

A number of members of the Taliban and/or the Haqqani Network are explicitly included on OFAC’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) . Persons operating in Afghanistan can use OFAC’s SDN List Search Tool to identify such members of the Taliban or the Haqqani… Read more

953. Do U.S. sanctions on the Taliban and the Haqqani Network prohibit moving or sending money into or out of Afghanistan? Do U.S. sanctions prohibit or require a particular method of payment for moving or sending money into or out of Afghanistan?

No. U.S. sanctions on the Taliban and the Haqqani Network do not prohibit the movement of funds into or out of Afghanistan, provided that the transactions do not involve blocked individuals or entities, or property in which a blocked person has an interest. In addition, OFAC has issued General… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence