The Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Department of State announced the following sanctions action in the last two weeks.
Iran-related Sanctions
OFAC updates Iran-related general licenses and issues wind-down authorization: OFAC issued Counter Terrorism General License 37, authorizing the wind down of transactions involving certain persons designated on Sept. 8, 2026. The agency also suspended Iran General License J-1, which had authorized the temporary reexport of certain civil aircraft to Iran, and issued Iran General License DD authorizing the wind down of certain civil aviation-related and other transactions previously permitted under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations. OFAC also updated the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. Read more.
Iran-related and Counter-terrorism Sanctions
OFAC targets Hezbollah and Kata’ib Hezbollah support networks: As part of Operation Economic Outcast, OFAC on Sept. 10 sanctioned individuals and entities in Iraq, Lebanon, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates that support Hezbollah and Kata’ib Hezbollah, two Iran-backed groups designated as terrorist organizations by the United States. The action was taken pursuant to Executive Orders 13224 and 13902. Read more.
Separately, OFAC announced an enforcement action against an individual for providing services to companies in Iran, and updated its Iran Statement of Licensing Policy to a presumption of denial except in limited circumstances.
Treasury targets Turkish bank linked to Iran: As part of Operation Economic Outcast, OFAC sanctioned Türkiye-based Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi Anonim Sirketi and its subsidiaries for allegedly facilitating tens of millions of dollars in transactions for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and providing the Iranian regime with access to international correspondent banking services. The action, taken under Executive Order 13902, targets a key financial channel used by Iran to move funds through the international financial system. Related to the action, OFAC issued Iran General License CC authorizing the wind down of transactions involving certain persons blocked on Sept. 4, 2026, and updated the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List. Read more.
OFAC targets Iran aviation support network: On Sept. 8, OFAC sanctioned 35 entities and one individual for supporting Iran’s aviation sector, which Treasury said is used to transport weapons, military personnel and illicit cargo. The action targets Iranian airlines, aviation service providers and cargo companies in Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Malaysia and Kazakhstan. Separately, FinCEN issued an alert requesting that financial institutions report suspicious activity related to procurement networks supporting Iran’s aviation industry. Read more.
Transnational Criminal Organization Sanctions
OFAC targets Xinbi Guarantee cybercrime network: OFAC sanctioned Xinbi Guarantee, a Chinese-language online marketplace accused of facilitating cyber scams, fraud and money laundering targeting Americans, along with two entities that provided digital currency and financial services to support its operations. The action, coordinated with the Justice Department’s Scam Center Strike Force, is part of broader efforts to disrupt transnational scam networks and illicit financial activity. Read more.
State Department designates Los Tiguerones as terrorist organization: On Sept. 9, the State Department designated Los Tiguerones as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to E.O. 13224. Los Tiguerones is an Ecuador-based gang linked to narcotrafficking and other illicit activity, along with numerous attacks targeting civilians, law enforcement officers, and journalists, including the live takeover of an Ecuadorian television station in 2024. Read more.
