Frequently Asked Questions

930. Do U.S. sanctions on the Taliban and the Haqqani Network prohibit the exportation or reexportation of agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices to Afghanistan?

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

932. Do U.S. sanctions prohibit U.S. persons from visiting, or making donations to, the Imam Reza Holy Shrine in Mashhad, Iran?

932 … URGENT NOTE: The U.S. Department of State cautions against any travel by U.S. persons to Iran. The Department of State has issued a Level Four Travel Advisory ( Do Not Travel ) for Iran due to the risk of kidnapping, arbitrary arrest, and detention of U.S. citizens . See additional guidance… Read more

933. Are the authorizations in paragraph (a) of Venezuela-related General Licenses 7C and 20B, respectively, expired?

933 … No. The authorizations in paragraph (a) of Venezuela-related General Licenses (GLs) 7C (“Authorizing Certain Activities Involving PDV Holding, Inc. and CITGO Holding, Inc.”) and 20B (“Authorizing Official Activities of Certain International Organizations Involving the Government of Venezuela… Read more

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?

935 … 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… Read more

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

936 … 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… Read more

971. Are the prohibitions of Directive 2 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” (Russia-related CAPTA Directive) limited to transactions denominated in U.S. dollars?

971 … No. The prohibitions of the Russia-related CAPTA Directive apply with respect to any currency. For example, a foreign branch of a U.S. financial institution may not open or maintain a correspondent account for or on behalf of, or process a transaction involving, a foreign financial… Read more

973. I am a U.S. individual or company that maintains an account at a foreign financial institution sanctioned pursuant to Directive 2 under Executive Order (E.O.) 14024. What are my obligations?

973 … With respect to foreign financial institutions subject to the prohibitions of Directive 2 under E.O. 14024 , “Prohibitions Related to Correspondent or Payable-Through Accounts and Processing of Transactions Involving Certain Foreign Financial Institutions” ( Russia-related CAPTA Directive ),… Read more

975. Is there a wind-down period for transactions involving the Russian financial institutions blocked in February 2022 pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024? What transactions are authorized during the wind-down period?

975 … For certain Russian financial institutions blocked in February 2022 pursuant to E.O. 14024 , a short-term wind-down period is authorized. General License (GL) 3 authorizes a wind-down period of 30 days for transactions involving State Corporation Bank for Development and Foreign Economic… Read more

977. What are transactions "related to energy" for purposes of Russia-related General License (GL) 8L?

977 … On January 10, 2025, OFAC issued amended GL 8L to authorize the wind-down of transactions related to energy involving certain Russian financial institutions sanctioned pursuant to E.O. 14024 through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time, March 12, 2025. For the purposes of GL 8L , the term "… Read more

979. I am a U.S. person. Can I rely on a person sanctioned pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 in connection with transactions for official business of an international organization, certain humanitarian-related trade, or the response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic?

979 … Yes, U.S. persons supporting activities undertaken for the official business of certain international organizations or entities, certain humanitarian-related trade, or the response to the COVID-19 pandemic may continue to engage in such activity involving persons sanctioned pursuant to E.O.… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence