U.S. sanctions
Find out who is involved and which rules apply.
A headline saying a company is under U.S. sanctions does not mean every person and transaction faces the same restrictions.
Can a payment go through or a contract be performed? The answer depends on the rules. You also need to establish whether the listed name is the company you are looking for.
Not confiscation; check authority
Not automatically full blocking
A listing is not always required
Choose a question
You do not need to learn the abbreviations first. Read in order for the basics, or go straight to the question you need answered.
Who and what can appear on a sanctions list?
People, entities, vessels, and the fields in an entry.
What does a listing actually prohibit?
Blocking, rejection, financing, and investment restrictions.
Does the same name mean the same person?
Names, aliases, scores, and reliable identifiers.
Can an unlisted company still be blocked?
Aggregation, indirect ownership, and control, with examples.
When can a license authorize a transaction?
Authorizations, remittances, aid, contracts, and investments.
Which sources explain the rules?
Current lists, program rules, authorizations, and records.
Who administers these sanctions?
This guide focuses on the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC. It administers economic and trade sanctions that can target particular people or entities, specified activities, or certain jurisdictions and governments.[22][10]
U.S. export controls and lists maintained by other agencies have their own rules. Establish which authority and list are involved instead of treating every U.S. restriction as the same system.[02]