Frequently Asked Questions

1152. Could foreign financial institutions (FFIs) that engage in transactions in non-USD currencies be sanctioned under section 11 of Executive Order (E.O.) 14024, as amended by E.O. 14114?

1152 … Yes. The prohibitions and targeting authorities of amended section 11 of E.O. 14024 apply with respect to any currency. For example, an FFI that processes a significant transaction denominated in a non-USD local currency for a person blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024 or an FFI that processes… Read more

1154. How does Executive Order (E.O.) 14114 of December 22, 2023 amend E.O. 14068, “Prohibiting Certain Imports, Exports, and New Investment with Respect to Continued Russian Federation Aggression”?

1154 … E.O. 14114 of December 22, 2023 amends E.O. 14068 to provide for additional prohibitions on the importation and entry into the United States of certain products. It does so by maintaining the existing E.O. 14068 importation prohibitions in subsection 1(a)(i)(A) and identifying in… Read more

1155. What does the determination of December 22, 2023, “Prohibitions Related to Imports of Certain Categories of Fish, Seafood, and Preparations Thereof,” pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14068, as amended by E.O. 14114 of December 22, 2023, (Seafood Determination) prohibit?

1155 … The Seafood Determination issued pursuant to subsection 1(a)(i)(B) of E.O. 14068 , as amended, prohibits the importation and entry into the United States, including importation for admission into a foreign trade zone located in the United States, of salmon, cod, pollock, or crab that was… Read more

1156. I have a shipment of a certain product(s) containing the types of seafood listed in the determination of December 22, 2023 pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14068, as amended by E.O. 14114 of December 22, 2023, (Seafood Determination) en route to the United States that was contracted prior to December 22, 2023. Can I complete such import into the United States? Can I find a new buyer for this shipment and/or re-direct the shipment to a country other than the United States?

1156 … Individuals and entities may import the listed types of seafood, for a limited time, into the United States subject to the conditions of General License (GL) 83 . GL 83 authorizes the importation into the United States, through 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time, February 21, 2024, of salmon… Read more

1157. For the purposes of the determination of December 22, 2023 pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14068, as amended by E.O. 14114 of December 22, 2023, (Seafood Determination) what is meant by the terms “salmon,” “cod,” “pollock,” and “crab”?

1157 … For the purposes of the Seafood Determination , OFAC anticipates publishing regulations defining these terms to include articles defined at the following Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) subheadings: • “Salmon:” articles defined at HTSUS subheadings 0302.13.0013,… Read more

1119. Does General License (GL) O authorize all wind-down transactions for any vessel that was blocked on March 2, 2023? What if the vessel contains Iranian-origin merchandise?

1119 … Iran GL O authorizes U.S. persons to wind down all transactions otherwise prohibited by section 5 of Executive Order 13846 involving any vessel blocked as part of the March 2, 2023 designation (“blocked vessels”), subject to certain conditions. This includes, among other activities, the… Read more

1120. Do non-U.S. persons risk exposure to U.S. sanctions for engaging in transactions that U.S. persons would be authorized to engage in under Iran General License (GL) O?

1120 … No. Non-U.S. persons generally do not risk exposure to sanctions for engaging in activities or facilitating transactions for such activities that would be authorized for U.S. persons pursuant to GL O . Non-U.S. persons unable to wind down transactions in accordance with Iran GL O before 12… Read more

1122. Certain transactions related to telecommunications and certain internet-based communications are already authorized by Russia-related General License (GL) 25D. What additional transactions does Russia-related GL 65 authorize?

1122 … The United States generally supports the free flow of information globally as facilitated by telecommunications and certain internet-based communications. Accordingly, GL 25D authorizes — with certain exceptions and exclusions — (i) all transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to the… Read more

1123. In Crystallex Int’l Corp. v. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 17-mc-00151 (D. Del.), the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware has entered a Sale Procedures Order with respect to certain shares in PDV Holding (PDVH) to satisfy a U.S. district court judgment confirming an arbitral award against Venezuela. May persons participate in or comply with steps relating to a judicial sale of such shares?

1123 … OFAC will not take enforcement action against any individuals or entities for participating in, facilitating, or complying with the prefatory steps set out in the court’s Sale Procedures Order, or for engaging in transactions that are ordinarily incident and necessary to participating in,… Read more

1124. I am a party seeking to enforce bondholder rights to the shares of CITGO Holding serving as collateral for the Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) 2020 8.5 percent bond, pending the outcome of ongoing litigation. How can I preserve or enforce my bondholder rights consistent with the Venezuela Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 591 (VSR)?

1124 … OFAC will not take enforcement action against any person for taking steps to preserve the ability to enforce bondholder rights to the CITGO shares serving as collateral for the PdVSA 2020 8.5 percent bond (see also OFAC Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) 1123 ; General License 42 and OFAC FAQ… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence