Official updates: October 5–11, 2026
October 5 — OFAC Designations Removals; Designations Updates; Publication of Iran-related OFAC Alert; Publication of Amended Iran-related Frequently Asked Question: OFAC removed and updated numerous sanctions listings, issued a notice warning foreign financial institutions about dealings with Iran and amended Iran-related FAQ 156. 

October 8 — OFAC Iran-related Designations; Issuance of Iran-related General License; Issuance of Amended Russia-related General License: OFAC targeted individuals, companies and vessels connected to Iran’s remaining shadow-fleet network while issuing an Iran wind-down licence and amending a Russia-related licence.

October 9 — Settlement with Pegasus Worldwide Logistics; International Criminal Court Designation and General Licenses; Burma-related Designation Removal: OFAC announced a $175,015 settlement with Pegasus, designated the International Criminal Court, issued four ICC-related general licences and removed one Burma-related individual from the SDN List. 

October 9 — Issuance of Russia-related General License: OFAC issued General License 135 authorizing specified transactions involving the sale, delivery, offloading and importation of Russian-origin diesel fuel. 

FinCEN
October 5 — FinCEN Announces Withdrawals of Proposed Digital Asset Related Rules: FinCEN withdrew proposed rules concerning transactions with unhosted cryptocurrency wallets and a proposed special measure covering convertible-virtual-currency mixing. 

INTERPOL
October 7 — 233 Arrested in Environmental Crime Crackdown in Latin America and Caribbean: Operation Madre Tierra VIII disrupted illegal mining, deforestation and wildlife-trafficking networks across nine countries, resulting in 233 arrests and the recovery of more than 1,000 animals. 

October 9 — Over 2,800 Illegal Firearms and 40,000 Pieces of Ammunition Seized in Operation in Europe and Asia: Operation Trigger X across 17 countries seized 2,823 firearms, nearly 400 grenades and explosives and more than 40,000 rounds of ammunition, while producing 152 arrests.

September 24 — OFAC Publication of Regulatory Amendments; Publication of Report for Licensing Activities Undertaken Pursuant to the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act: OFAC consolidated sanctions-enforcement and penalty procedures into new Sanctions Penalties Regulations and published its TSRA licensing report.

September 28 — Issuance of Amended Venezuela General Licenses: OFAC amended three general licences covering Venezuelan-origin oil and petrochemical products, specified supplies and services, and contingent investment contracts.

September 29 — Counter Narcotics, Counter Terrorism, Iran-related, and Non-Proliferation Designations: OFAC sanctioned Sinaloa Cartel leadership and facilitators alongside individuals and companies involved in procuring weapons and components for Iran’s defence establishment.

September 29 — Publication of Regulatory Amendments; Publication of Cuba Sanctions Regulations; Issuance of New and Amended Cuba-related FAQs; Publication of Cuba-related OFAC Alert: OFAC reorganized multiple regulatory provisions, amended the Iran sanctions regulations and published revised Cuba regulations, compliance guidance and related FAQs. 

September 30 — Counter Terrorism and Transnational Criminal Organizations Designations; Belarus, Counter Narcotics, and Libya Designations Removals: OFAC designated members and financial facilitators of Tren de Aragua while removing specified persons from several other sanctions programmes. 

October 1 — Iran-related Designations and Updates; Transnational Criminal Organizations Designation; Iran-related Determination and Amended FAQ: OFAC designated the A7 Network and Iranian industrial networks, extended sectoral sanctions to Iran’s automotive and rail industries and amended Iran-related guidance. 

October 2 — Counter Terrorism Designations: OFAC designated a Hamas military-wing member, two France-based individuals and two affiliated nonprofit entities accused of providing financing to Hamas.

FinCEN
October 1 — Proposal of Special Measure Prohibiting the Transmittal of Funds Regarding Transactions Involving the A7 Network’s Sub-Agents
FinCEN proposed prohibiting covered financial institutions from transmitting funds involving identified A7 Network sub-agents because of money-laundering concerns. 

INTERPOL
September 25 — INTERPOL Americas Conference Strengthens Collective Response to Organized Crime: Regional law-enforcement leaders adopted recommendations for stronger cooperation and information sharing against illicit financial flows and transnational organized crime. 

September 10 — Iran-related and Counter Terrorism Designations; Licensing Policy Update under Operation Economic Outcast; Settlement Agreement between OFAC and an Individual OFAC sanctioned networks supporting Kata’ib Hizballah and Lebanese Hizballah, adopted a presumption of denial for most Iran-related specific licence applications, and announced a $1.43 million individual settlement for apparent Iran-sanctions violations.

September 9 — Transnational Criminal Organizations Designations; Counter Terrorism Designation; Issuance of New and Amended Frequently Asked Questions
OFAC designated Xinbi Guarantee and two supporting technology companies for facilitating cyber-enabled fraud, designated Los Tiguerones, and issued two new and several amended sanctions FAQs.

September 8 — Treasury Grounds Iranian Airlines with Sweeping Sanctions Action
Treasury sanctioned 36 aviation-sector targets and restricted aviation authorizations as part of a campaign against Iranian airline and aircraft-procurement networks.

September 10 — FinCEN Issues Whistleblower Bulletin on Iran-Related Illicit Finance
FinCEN invited eligible whistleblower reports concerning BSA or sanctions violations involving Iranian proxies, facilitators and illicit commercial activity.

September 8 — FinCEN Issues FAQs Regarding Treatment of Verifiable Digital Credentials Under the Customer Identification Program Rule
FinCEN and federal banking regulators clarified how mobile driver’s licences and other government-issued digital credentials may be used for identity verification under the CIP Rule.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

August 24 - 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.

August 27 - Venezuela licensing changed again. OFAC issued amended Venezuela-related General Licenses and associated FAQs on August 27. Any Venezuela opinion or transaction structure relying on an existing GL should therefore use the current August 27 version, not a previously downloaded license.

August 26 - Russia / counterterrorism: OFAC issued counterterrorism designations, a counterterrorism General License and an amended Russia-related General License.

August 24 - 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.

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. 

August 18 - International Criminal Court-related Designations; Venezuela-related Designation; Issuance of International Criminal Court-related General License. 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."

August 20 - Treasury Sanctions Major Ecuador-Based Cocaine Network Linked to Violent Gangs and Mexican Cartels. 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.

August 20 - Treasury Increases Sanctions on Hizballah and Targets Network Smuggling Millions in Cash for Hizballah. 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. 

August 21 - 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. 

August 22 - Imposing Sanctions on Cuban Regime:  Imposing Sanctions on Cuban Regime Actors Associated with Marxist Subversive Networks and Corrupt Economic Dealings. 

August 3 - FinCEN Assesses Historic $125 Million Penalty Against UBS Financial Services Inc. for Recidivist BSA Violations. 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.

August 4 - 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

August 5 - Update to OFAC's list of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) and Blocked Persons. OFAC introduces a new Counter Terrorism Designations Removals and Update 

August 6 - Issuance of Cuba-related Frequently Asked Questions. 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.

August 10 - State Department Revokes More Than 175,000 Visas. 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. 

July 31 - 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

July 29 - 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.

July 27 - 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.

July 2026 - 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