OFAC — Office of Foreign Assets Control

September 4 — Iran-related Designations; Issuance of Iran-related General License

OFAC added Iran-related targets to its sanctions lists and issued Iran General License CC, authorizing the wind-down of transactions involving certain persons blocked on September 4.
OFAC — Iran-related Designations and General License

September 3 — Cuba Designations; Russia-related Designation Removal; Issuance of Amended Cuba General License

OFAC made new Cuba-related designations, removed a Russia-related designation, and issued an amended Cuba General License as part of its September 3 sanctions-list update.
OFAC — September 3 Sanctions List Update

September 4 — Treasury Severs Iranian Regime’s Financial Lifelines in Türkiye

Treasury/OFAC sanctioned targets connected to Iranian financial networks in Türkiye, including action against a bank Treasury says provided critical international banking access to the Iranian regime.
U.S. Treasury — Treasury Severs Iranian Regime’s Financial Lifelines in Türkiye

September 3 — Treasury, IRS Move to End Tax-Exempt Status for Discriminatory Practices in Private Schools

Treasury and the IRS issued proposed regulations intended to end federal tax-exempt status for private schools engaging in discriminatory practices.
U.S. Treasury — Treasury, IRS Move to End Tax-Exempt Status for Discriminatory Practices in Private Schools

FinCEN — Financial Crimes Enforcement Network

September 3 — Southwest Border Geographic Targeting Order

FinCEN published a new/updated Geographic Targeting Order imposing recordkeeping and reporting requirements on certain money services businesses along the U.S. southwest border, continuing its use of enhanced financial reporting to target cartel-related illicit finance.
FinCEN — Southwest Border Geographic Targeting Order

September 2 — Joint Statement on SAR Confidentiality Considerations Regarding Communications with Customers

FinCEN, the Federal Reserve, FDIC, NCUA and OCC jointly issued guidance clarifying how financial institutions can communicate with customers while complying with statutory restrictions protecting the confidentiality of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs).
FinCEN — Joint Statement on SAR Confidentiality

INTERPOL

September 2 — Police Chiefs from Middle East and North Africa Convene to Tackle Evolving Regional Crime Threats

Police chiefs from across the Middle East and North Africa met in Cairo under INTERPOL to strengthen international cooperation against regional and transnational crime threats; the two-day meeting on September 1–2 focused on operational cooperation, information sharing and evolving security challenges.
INTERPOL — Police Chiefs from Middle East and North Africa Convene to Tackle Evolving Regional Crime Threats

• Major Iran escalation.

  On August 24, OFAC launched a significant new Iran sanctions package and indefinitely suspended the effectiveness of several General Licenses under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations (ITSR). OFAC also issued an alert concerning sanctions risks associated with Iranian demands for passage through the Strait of Hormuz. ofac.treasury.gov

  This is particularly important for banks, payment processors and counsel handling Iran-origin funds, family remittances, humanitarian transactions, EB-5/source-of-funds matters and blocked transfers. Transactions previously analyzed primarily under a General License should be re-screened against the August 24 changes rather than relying on an earlier GL analysis

•  Treasury simultaneously imposed a broad new round of Iran-related designations
  aimed at military procurement, petroleum/petrochemical trading and associated international networks. The campaign reached intermediaries and businesses outside Iran, including entities operating through the UAE and Asia.

  UAE banking exposure became a particular focus. On August 28, Treasury announced another Iran-related action specifically targeting Iran's access to UAE banks under what Treasury calls Operation Economic Outcast. ofac.treasury.gov

  For compliance purposes, this reinforces the need for enhanced diligence where a transaction has an apparently UAE-based payer, beneficiary or trading company but potentially involves Iranian ownership, Iranian underlying trade, Iranian-origin funds or an Iranian ultimate beneficiary. Simply routing a transaction through a UAE company or bank does not remove the underlying sanctions analysis.

• Venezuela licensing changed again
  OFAC issued amended Venezuela-related General Licenses and associated FAQs on August 27. ofac.treasury.gov

  Any Venezuela opinion or transaction structure relying on an existing GL should therefore use the current August 27 version, not a previously downloaded license.

• Russia / counterterrorism
  On August 26, OFAC issued counterterrorism designations, a counterterrorism General License and an amended Russia-related General License. ofac.treasury.gov
  

• Syria moved toward further sanctions normalization 
  On August 24, the State Department removed Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism designation. OFAC consequently stated that Syria is no longer subject to the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations restrictions applicable on that basis. HTS was also removed from the SDN List following revocation of its SDGT designation. ofac.treasury.gov

  This does not mean Syria is sanctions-free. OFAC continues targeted sanctions against Assad and associates, human-rights abusers, Captagon traffickers, proliferation actors, ISIS/Al-Qaida affiliates, and Iran/proxy networks. ofac.treasury.gov

• International Criminal Court-related Designations; Venezuela-related Designation; Issuance of International Criminal Court-related General License

August 18: The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing International Criminal Court-related General License 12, "Authorizing the Wind Down of Transactions Involving Certain Persons Blocked on August 18, 2026."

• Treasury Sanctions Major Ecuador-Based Cocaine Network Linked to Violent Gangs and Mexican Cartels

August 20: the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 15 Ecuador-based targets and identified as blocked property 10 vessels involved in covertly shipping thousands of kilograms of cocaine each month from South America to Mexico, destined for distribution in the United States.

• Treasury Increases Sanctions on Hizballah and Targets Network Smuggling Millions in Cash for Hizballah

August 20: the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designating 10 individuals that are part of a network responsible for transferring cash to Hizballah. 

• Update to OFAC's list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) and Blocked Persons; Issuance of Russia-related General License

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing Russia-related General License 131I, "Authorizing Certain Transactions for the Negotiation of and Entry Into Contingent Contracts for the Sale of Lukoil International GmbH and Related Maintenance Activities." Amending two associated, Russia-related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs 1224 and 1225) and one Cuba-related Frequently Asked Question (FAQ 1265). Issuingh SDN list update. 

• Imposing Sanctions on Cuban Regime

Imposing Sanctions on Cuban Regime Actors Associated with Marxist Subversive Networks and Corrupt Economic Dealings. 

• Treasury Announces Second Round of Sanctions Removals, Updates in Modernization Initiative

On July 27, this actionthis action removed 84 individuals and entities and improved identifying information for 22 list entries to facilitate compliance.

• FinCEN Assesses Historic $125 Million Penalty Against UBS Financial Services Inc. for Recidivist BSA Violations

August 3: The Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) assessed a $125,000,000 civil money penalty against UBS Financial Services Inc. for willful violations of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). This is the largest penalty ever imposed against a broker-dealer for BSA violations to date.

• Update to OFAC's list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) and Blocked Persons

August 5: OFAC introduces a new Counter Terrorism Designations Removals and Update 

• Issuance of Cuba-related Frequently Asked Questions

August 6: The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing a new Cuba-related Frequently Asked Question, FAQ 1264. Additionally, OFAC has updated the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List.

• State Department Revokes More Than 175,000 Visas

August 10: the United States Department of State has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals who violated the terms of their visas, committed crimes, called for violence against U.S. citizens, defrauded Americans, abused our immigration system, or endangered national security. 

• New INKSNA Measures Reach Beyond the SDN List: What Exporters and Defense Contractors Must Check Now

On August 4, State published measures against 22 foreign persons that suspend existing EAR licenses, bar new licenses, and restrict U.S. government procurement, assistance, and USML sales. The strongest angle is why screening must extend beyond OFAC and BIS lists. Federal Register notice

• OFAC Targets Iran’s Strait of Hormuz “Insurance” Scheme: Maritime, Crypto, and Shadow-Fleet Risks

OFAC designated 10 entities and identified eight vessels on July 29. The novel hook is Treasury’s allegation that purported mandatory maritime insurance—including digital-asset payments—was generating revenue for Iran. Treasury release, OFAC action

• DDTC’s Open General Licenses Reached Their July 31 Expiration: What Defense-Trade Participants Should Do Next

The licenses covered qualifying retransfers and reexports involving Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. No renewal was located in the materials reviewed, so this promising topic requires same-day confirmation with DDTC before publication. Official notice

• INTERPOL’s New Africa Cyberthreat Assessment: AI Fraud and Cross-Border Investigations

INTERPOL reports that AI was involved “in some capacity” in 55% of cybercrime reported by surveyed African countries. The article could address synthetic identities, international evidence gathering, asset recovery, and cooperation barriers—while clarifying that the assessment is not a Red Notice, prosecution, or new legal rule. INTERPOL announcement

• DOJ’s Corporate Whistleblower Pilot Enters Its Final Scheduled Year

This would be an anniversary-based explainer, not a newly announced action. The practical angle is how sanctions, customs, contracting, and transnational-crime reports fit within the program—and how its eligibility rules interact with other federal whistleblower programs. DOJ program guidance

Alert to Countries, Companies, and Other Entities Regarding North Korean IT Workers.

United States Sanctioning Iran’s Mahan Air Network and IRGC-Linked Front Company.

OFAC issues Venezuela-related Frequently Asked Questions

OFAC issues amended Russia-related General License and Frequently Asked Questions.