Bulwark
Sign inRequest access

Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations

Rule published August 26, 2026 · 91 FR 54957

Document number
FR Doc. 2026-17426
Type
Rule
Published
August 26, 2026
Citation
91 FR 54957 (pages 54,957–54,958)
Action
Final rule; stay of effectiveness.
Effective
August 24, 2026
Dates
Effective August 24, 2026, 31 CFR 560.544, 560.550, and 560.554 are stayed indefinitely.
Official sources
PDF (govinfo.gov) · federalregister.gov

Summary

The Federal Register's summaryThe Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is indefinitely suspending five general licenses issued pursuant to the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations to align with changes in the foreign policy of the United States towards Iran.

Regulations cited

OFAC has reused some part numbers, so today's heading can name a different regulation from the one this document concerned.

Executive orders cited

Text

As the Government Publishing Office publishes it. Pages OFAC printed as images (in recent notices, the lists of names) are in the official PDF.

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 164 (Wednesday, August 26, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54957-54958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17426]



[[Page 54957]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Office of Foreign Assets Control

31 CFR Part 560


Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations

AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury.

ACTION: Final rule; stay of effectiveness.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets
Control (OFAC) is indefinitely suspending five general licenses issued
pursuant to the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations to align
with changes in the foreign policy of the United States towards Iran.

DATES: Effective August 24, 2026, 31 CFR 560.544, 560.550, and 560.554
are stayed indefinitely.
    As of August 24, 2026, the effectiveness of the Iran General
Licenses F and G, published at 79 FR 11180 and 79 FR 49157,
respectively, and available on OFAC's website (https://ofac.treasury.gov), are stayed indefinitely.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OFAC: Assistant Director for
Regulatory Affairs, 202-622-4855; or https://ofac.treasury.gov/contact-ofac.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Availability

    This document and additional information concerning OFAC are
available on OFAC's website: https://ofac.treasury.gov.

Background

    On October 22, 2012, OFAC issued a final rule that amended the
former Iranian Transactions Regulations, 31 CFR part 560 (ITR), and
reissued them in their entirety as the Iranian Transactions and
Sanctions Regulations (ITSR or ``the Regulations'') (77 FR 64664,
October 22, 2012). Since then, OFAC has amended the Regulations on
several occasions.
    On February 27, 2014, OFAC published in the Federal Register
General License F, which was issued pursuant to the Regulations on
September 10, 2013 (79 FR 11180, February 27, 2014). On August 19,
2014, OFAC published in the Federal Register General License G, which
was issued pursuant to the Regulations on March 19, 2014 (79 FR 49157,
August 19, 2014). These general licenses were issued pursuant to the
Regulations and are available on OFAC's website (www.treasury.gov/ofac).

Rules To Be Stayed

    In response to Iran's continued disruptions to global energy
markets, attacks on partners and allies in the Middle East,
reconstitution of its conventional and nuclear weapons programs,
efforts to monetize the Strait of Hormuz, and continued support to
terrorist proxies, OFAC is indefinitely suspending the general licenses
contained at 31 CFR 560.544, 560.550, and 560.554. These general
licenses authorize, respectively, certain educational activities by
U.S. persons in third countries; certain noncommercial, personal
remittances to or from Iran; and the importation and exportation of
services related to conferences in the United States or third
countries. As a result of this suspension, any such transactions are no
longer authorized by OFAC as of August 24, 2026.
    In addition, OFAC is suspending indefinitely Iran General License
F, published at 79 FR 11180, and Iran General License G, published at
79 FR 49157. These general licenses authorize, respectively, certain
services in support of professional and amateur sports activities and
exchanges involving the United and Iran, and certain academic exchanges
and the exportation or importation of certain educational services. As
a result of this suspension, any such transactions are no longer
authorized by OFAC as of August 24, 2026.

Public Participation

    Because the Regulations involve a foreign affairs function, the
provisions of E.O. 12866 of September 30, 1993, ``Regulatory Planning
and Review'' (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993), as amended, and the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requiring notice of
proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in
effective date, as well as the provisions of E.O. 14192 of January 31,
2025, ``Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation'' (90 FR 9065,
February 6, 2025) and E.O. 14219 of February 19, 2025, ``Ensuring
Lawful Governance and Implementing the President's `Department of
Government Efficiency' Deregulatory Initiative'' (90 FR 10583, February
25, 2025) are inapplicable. Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is
required for this rule, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-
612) does not apply.

Executive Order 14294

    Section 5 of E.O. 14294 of May 9, 2025, ``Fighting
Overcriminalization in Federal Regulations'' (90 FR 20367, May 14,
2025) directs that all future notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRMs)
and final rules published in the Federal Register, the violation of
which may constitute criminal regulatory offenses, should include a
statement identifying that the rule or proposed rule is a criminal
regulatory offense and the authorizing statute. E.O. 14294 directs
agencies to draft this statement in consultation with the Department of
Justice.
    E.O. 14294 further directs that the regulatory text of all NPRMs
and final rules with criminal consequences published in the Federal
Register after May 9, 2025 should explicitly state a mens rea
requirement for each element of a criminal regulatory offense,
accompanied by citations to the relevant provisions of the authorizing
statute.
    Willful violations of the regulations set forth in this final rule
may be subject to criminal penalties pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1705 and
regulations promulgated thereunder. The statutory authority for
criminal liability requires a mens rea of willfulness as an element
pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1705(c). In drafting this statement, OFAC has
consulted with the Department of Justice.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because this rule does
not impose information collection requirements that would require the
approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq.

List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 560

    Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, banking, Blocking of
assets, Credit, Foreign trade, Iran, Sanctions, Services.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, OFAC amends 31 CFR part
560 as follows:

PART 560--IRANIAN TRANSACTIONS AND SANCTIONS REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 560 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 3 U.S.C. 301; 18 U.S.C. 2339B, 2332d; 22 U.S.C.
2349aa-9, 7201-7211, 8501-8551, 8701-8795; 31 U.S.C. 321(b); 50
U.S.C. 1601-1651, 1701-1706; Pub. L. 101-410, 104 Stat. 890, as
amended (28 U.S.C. 2461 note); E.O. 12613, 52 FR 41940, 3 CFR, 1987
Comp., p. 256; E.O. 12957, 60 FR 14615, 3 CFR, 1995 Comp., p. 332;
E.O. 12959, 60 FR 24757, 3 CFR, 1995 Comp., p. 356; E.O. 13059, 62
FR 44531, 3 CFR, 1997 Comp., p. 217; E.O. 13599, 77 FR 6659, 3 CFR,
2012 Comp., p. 215; E.O. 13846, 83 FR 38939, 3 CFR, 2018 Comp., p.
854.

[[Page 54958]]

Subpart E--Licenses, Authorizations, and Statements of Licensing
Policy


Sec. Sec.  560.544, 560.550, and 560.554   [Stayed]

0
2. Sections 560.544, 560.550, and 560.554 are stayed indefinitely.

Bradley T. Smith,
Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury.
[FR Doc. 2026-17426 Filed 8-24-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4810-AL-P

Search all of OFAC's Federal Register documents

Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations · Bulwark Compliance