Frequently Asked Questions

951. Is Afghanistan subject to comprehensive sanctions?

951 … 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,… 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?

952 … 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?

953 … 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… Read more

954. Are purchases of fuel, payment for telecommunications services, payment for security services, payment of rent, and payment of utilities by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) considered ordinarily incident and necessary to authorized activities under Afghanistan-related General Licenses (GLs) 14, 15, and 19? Are such transactions covered by Afghanistan-related GL 20?

954 … The purchases of fuel, payment for telecommunications services, payment for security services, payment of rent, and payment of utilities may be authorized under 14 , 15 , and 19 provided that they are ordinarily incident and necessary to effectuate the activities authorized by the GLs. As… Read more

955. Are General Licenses (GLs) 17, 18, 19, and 20 consistent with the UN Security Council’s 1988 (Taliban) sanctions regime?

955 … Yes. GLs 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 and 20 help implement recently adopted United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2615 (2021), which authorizes humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs as those terms are understood by the UN Security Council… 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

938. What early-recovery-related transactions and activities are nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) authorized to engage in pursuant to the general license (GL) at § 542.516 of the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (SySR), as amended on June 5, 2024?

938 … The GL at § 542.516 of the SySR authorizes NGOs to engage in activities in support of certain non-commercial activities in Syria, including: humanitarian projects to meet basic human needs; democracy-building; education; non-commercial development projects directly benefitting the Syrian… 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?

956 … 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

957. Can non-U.S. companies ship food and agricultural products to Afghanistan? Can banks process these transactions?

957 … Yes. Both U.S. and non-U.S. companies can ship food to Afghanistan, and banks can process financial transfers and other transactions associated with food shipments to Afghanistan. As described in FAQ 930 , U.S. sanctions do not specifically prohibit the exportation or reexportation of… Read more

Frequently Asked Questions

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence