Frequently Asked Questions

406. Does the prohibition on dealing in new equity of entities subject to Directive 1 apply to transactions in which those entities are not the issuer of the equity?

U.S. persons are not prohibited from dealing in new equity with an entity subject to Directive 1 if the entity is not the issuer of the equity. For instance, U.S. persons are not prohibited from transacting with an entity subject to Directive 1 in support of new equity where the entity subject to… Read more

407. May a U.S. person consent to a replacement of its participation by a non-U.S. person in a long-term loan facility that was extended to a person subject to Directives 1, 2, or 3 prior to the sanctions effective date?

A U.S. person is not prohibited by Directives 1, 2, or 3 from engaging in transactions necessary to exit or replace its participation in a long-term loan facility that was extended to an SSI entity prior to the sanctions effective date. This would not constitute dealing in new debt. U.S. persons… Read more

408. Is a U.S. person permitted under Directives 1, 2, or 3 to extend credit for longer than the applicable tenor specified in the relevant Directive to a non-sanctioned party for the purpose of purchasing goods or services from a person subject to Directives 1, 2, or 3?

Directives 1, 2, and 3 do not prohibit U.S. persons from extending credit for longer than the applicable tenor specified in the relevant Directive to non-sanctioned parties for the purpose of purchasing goods or services from an SSI entity, so long as the SSI entity is not the indirect …

409. If a person determined to be subject to Directives 1, 2, or 3 is a borrower under a short-term facility created after the sanctions effective date, does the facility become prohibited if the SSI entity borrower makes successive short-term borrowings that cumulatively add up to more than the applicable tenor specified in the relevant Directive (e.g., it borrows $100 million with a 10-day maturity, then at the end of the 10 days, the debt “rolls over”)?

Two conditions must be met for short-term facilities created after the sanctions effective date to be permissible. As long as (1) each individual disbursement has a maturity of no longer than the applicable tenor specified in the relevant Directive and the disbursement is paid back in full before… Read more

410. Are U.S. persons prohibited from entering into new contracts after the sanctions effective date with persons subject to Directives 1, 2, or 3 that provide payment terms to the SSI entities of greater than the applicable tenor specified in the relevant Directive? For instance, if a U.S. person agrees to sell shares or assets to an SSI entity in a corporate transaction that becomes effective on or after the sanctions effective date, is the U.S. person prohibited from agreeing to deferred purchase payments, even if no interest is involved, that may be paid more than the permissible number of days later by the SSI entity?

Directives 1, 2, and 3 prohibit new extensions of credit to SSI entities of greater than the applicable tenor specified in the relevant Directive, and these prohibitions include deferred purchase agreements extending payment terms of longer than the applicable tenor specified in the relevant… Read more

411. What does the prohibition contained in Directive 3 under Executive Order 13662 mean? What is the scope of prohibited services?

OFAC issued Directive 3 , introducing new prohibitions on all transactions in, provision of financing for, and other dealings in new debt of longer than 30 days maturity of persons determined to be subject to the Directive, their property, or their interests in property. Transactions by U.S.… Read more

412. What do the prohibitions contained in Directive 4 mean? What is the scope of prohibited services?

Directive 4, as amended on October 31, 2017 in accordance with CAATSA , imposes two prohibitions on the provision, exportation, or reexportation of goods, services (except for financial services), or technology for certain activities involving persons subject to Directive 4, their property, or… Read more

413. For the purposes of Directive 4, how does OFAC define "deepwater" projects that have the potential to produce oil?

A project is considered to be a deepwater project if the project involves underwater activities at depths of more than 500 feet. …

414. Does Directive 4 apply to projects that have the potential to produce gas?

If a deepwater, Arctic offshore, or shale project has the potential to produce oil, and the other requirements for either of the Directive 4 prohibitions are fully satisfied, then the relevant Directive 4 prohibition applies, irrespective of whether the project also has the potential to produce gas… Read more

415. For persons determined to be subject to multiple Directives, how do the prohibitions and exemptions listed under one Directive affect prohibitions and exemptions under the other Directives?

Each Directive operates independently of the others. If a transaction involves a person subject to two Directives, for example, a U.S. person engaging in that transaction must comply with the requirements of both Directives. Exemptions in one Directive apply only to the prohibitions contained in… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence