OFAC amends Iran sanctions rules to implement EO 13902

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a final rule, FR Doc No. 2026-19978, that amends 31 CFR part 560, the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, effective September 30, 2026. The amendment implements provisions of Executive Order 13902, dated January 10, 2020, and revises an existing definition and exemption while incorporating two new exemptions.

In subpart B, Sec. 560.210 is revised to add exemptions (g) and (h). Exemption (g) reflects the agricultural, food, medicine, and medical-device exception set out in section 11 of EO 13902, and exemption (h) mirrors the United Nations official-business exception from section 12 of the same order. Subpart B also revises Sec. 560.211 to implement section 1(a) of EO 13902, expanding the block on property and interests in property for U.S. persons engaged in specified Iranian sectors. Conforming amendments are made to notes 1 and 2 of paragraphs (a) through (c) of Sec. 560.211.

Subpart C updates Sec. 560.303 to incorporate the EO 13902 definition of "Iran," which includes the Government of Iran and any territory over which it exercises de facto control, for purposes of the newly added Sec. 560.210(g) and Sec. 560.211(c)(1)(iii).

Pursuant to Executive Order 14294 of May 9, 2025, the rule includes a criminal-offense statement. Willful violations may be punished under 50 U.S.C. § 1705, which requires a mens rea of willfulness per 50 U.S.C. § 1705(c). OFAC consulted the Department of Justice in drafting this language.

Because the rule involves a foreign-affairs function, notice-and-comment procedures under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Regulatory Flexibility Act do not apply. Information-collection requirements remain approved under the Paperwork Reduction Act (control number 1505-0164). For further details, contact the OFAC Assistant Director for Regulatory Affairs at 202-622-4855 or via https://ofac.treasury.gov/contact-ofac.