Weekly News Digest - September Week One

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