OFAC Sanctioned Countries List 2026 — Complete Guide

What Is the OFAC Sanctioned Countries List?

The OFAC sanctioned countries list refers to countries against which the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) administers sanctions programs under the authority of U.S. law and Presidential executive orders. OFAC, a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, implements and enforces these economic and trade sanctions as a tool of U.S. foreign policy and national security.

The list of sanctioned countries maintained by OFAC is not a simple binary — countries are subject to very different levels of restriction. Some face comprehensive sanctions where virtually every transaction requires an OFAC license; others face targeted sanctions directed at specific individuals, entities, sectors, or activities. Understanding which programs apply — and what they prohibit — is essential for any business or individual with international exposure.

As of 2026, OFAC administers more than 35 active sanctions programs covering countries, regions, and thematic issues (terrorism, narcotics, cyber, etc.). The OFAC sanctioned countries list below covers all major country-specific programs.

Complete OFAC Sanctioned Countries List (2026)

Country	OFAC Program	Year Imposed	Type	Key Restrictions
Iran	Iranian Transactions & Sanctions Regulations (ITSR) — 31 CFR Part 560	1979 (expanded 1995–2012)	Comprehensive	Virtually all transactions prohibited; no imports, exports, or financial dealings without OFAC license; secondary sanctions on non-U.S. persons
Cuba	Cuban Assets Control Regulations (CACR) — 31 CFR Part 515	1963	Comprehensive	Embargo on imports/exports; financial transactions prohibited; travel restrictions (General Licenses authorize limited activities)
North Korea	North Korea Sanctions Regulations — 31 CFR Part 510	2008 (EO 13722)	Comprehensive	All trade and investment prohibited; secondary sanctions on third-country entities supporting DPRK; arms embargo
Syria	Syrian Sanctions Regulations — 31 CFR Part 542	2004 (EO 13338)	Comprehensive	Virtually all trade and services prohibited; arms embargo; oil/gas sector blocked; financial institutions restricted
Russia	Russia-related sanctions — Ukraine-/Russia-Related EOs 13660–13662, 14024	2014 (Crimea/Ukraine); expanded 2022	Targeted (extensive)	Financial sector restrictions; export controls; SDN designations for oligarchs, banks, defense entities; energy sector restrictions; technology/luxury goods bans
Venezuela	Venezuela Sanctions Regulations — 31 CFR Part 591	2015 (EO 13692)	Targeted	SDN designations for officials/entities; PDVSA oil restrictions (substantially eased via 2026 General Licenses); government asset block under EO 13884
Belarus	Belarus Sanctions (EO 13405, EO 14038)	2006 (EO 13405); expanded 2021	Targeted	SDN designations for Lukashenko regime officials; financial sector restrictions; export controls on dual-use goods
Myanmar (Burma)	Burmese Sanctions Regulations — 31 CFR Part 537	1997 (expanded 2021 post-coup)	Targeted	SDN designations for military junta leaders and entities; arms embargo; financial sector restrictions; jade/rubies import ban
Sudan	Sudan Sanctions Regulations — 31 CFR Part 538	1997	Targeted	SDN designations; arms embargo; restrictions on dealings with Sudanese government and military entities
Zimbabwe	Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act sanctions (EO 13288)	2003	Targeted	SDN designations for Mugabe-era officials; property block on designated persons; financial restrictions
Somalia	Somalia Sanctions (EO 13536)	2010	Targeted	SDN designations for Al-Shabaab leaders and financiers; arms embargo support; targeted asset freezes
Libya	Libyan Sanctions Regulations — 31 CFR Part 570	2011 (EO 13566)	Targeted	SDN designations for Gaddafi-linked entities; arms embargo (UN-aligned); frozen Libyan government assets
Yemen	Yemen-related sanctions (EO 13611)	2012	Targeted	SDN designations targeting Houthi leaders, financiers, and arms suppliers; targeted asset freezes
Mali	Mali-related sanctions (EO 13882)	2019	Targeted	SDN designations for persons threatening Mali’s peace process; targeted asset freezes and travel bans
Central African Republic	CAR Sanctions (EO 13667)	2014	Targeted	SDN designations for armed groups and persons obstructing peace; targeted asset freezes; arms embargo support
Iraq	Iraq Stabilization and Insurgency Sanctions Regulations — 31 CFR Part 576	1990 (Gulf War); restructured 2003+	Targeted	SDN designations for remnant Ba’athist entities and insurgent financiers; limited ongoing restrictions
Lebanon	Lebanon-related sanctions (EO 13441, Hizballah designations)	2007	Targeted	SDN designations for Hezbollah officials and financiers; property block on designated persons
Nicaragua	Nicaragua sanctions (EO 13851, RENACER Act)	2018	Targeted	SDN designations for Ortega regime officials; financial restrictions; no broad import/export ban
DR Congo	DRC-related sanctions (EO 13413)	2006	Targeted	SDN designations for armed groups and human rights violators; targeted asset freezes
Haiti	Haiti-related sanctions (EO 14059, gang designations)	2022 (expanded)	Targeted	SDN designations for gang leaders (e.g., G9 leaders); targeted asset freezes; arms embargo support
Ethiopia	Ethiopia-related sanctions (EO 14046)	2021	Targeted	SDN designations for parties to Tigray conflict; targeted asset freezes
Balkans/Western Balkans	Western Balkans Sanctions (EO 13219)	2001	Targeted	SDN designations for persons obstructing Balkans peace; targeted measures

Comprehensive vs. Targeted Sanctions: Key Differences

The most important distinction in the OFAC countries list is between comprehensive and targeted sanctions programs:

Comprehensive Sanctions (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria)

Under comprehensive sanctions, U.S. persons are broadly prohibited from engaging in virtually any transaction with the country, its government, residents, or businesses — unless an OFAC license (general or specific) expressly authorizes the activity. This includes:

• Importing or exporting goods, technology, or services
• Financial transactions, wire transfers, or banking relationships
• Investment or joint venture activity
• Travel-related transactions (in the case of Cuba and North Korea)

Targeted Sanctions (Russia, Venezuela, Belarus, and others)

Under targeted sanctions, restrictions apply to specific persons (SDN designees), sectors, or types of transactions — rather than all dealings with the country. U.S. companies can often do business in targeted-sanctions countries so long as they:

• Screen all counterparties against the OFAC SDN list
• Avoid prohibited sectors (e.g., Russian defense and financial sectors, Venezuelan government assets)
• Comply with applicable export controls and reporting requirements
• Obtain specific licenses where their activity falls within a restricted category

How OFAC Sanctions Programs Work

Feature	Comprehensive Programs	Targeted Programs
Countries covered	Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria	Russia, Venezuela, Belarus, Myanmar, Sudan, and 15+ others
Who is restricted	All counterparties in the country	Designated persons, entities, and sectors only
Trade allowed?	No (except via OFAC license)	Generally yes, with due diligence and SDN screening
Financial transactions	Prohibited (except licensed)	Prohibited only with SDN-listed parties or restricted sectors
OFAC license required	For virtually all transactions	For transactions involving SDNs or restricted sectors
Penalties for violations	Up to $1M per violation or 2x transaction value	Same — strict liability applies regardless of knowledge

OFAC Sanctions Compliance: What Businesses Must Do

Any U.S. person (including U.S. companies and their foreign subsidiaries in certain cases), and any person conducting transactions in the U.S. financial system, must comply with OFAC regulations. Practical compliance steps include:

1. SDN List Screening — Screen all customers, suppliers, partners, and beneficial owners against OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List before any transaction
2. Consolidated Sanctions List — Also check OFAC’s Consolidated Sanctions List (CSL), which includes the Non-SDN Iranian Sanctions Act List, the Foreign Sanctions Evaders List, and others
3. Country Risk Assessment — Identify all counterparties’ jurisdictions and determine whether comprehensive or targeted programs apply
4. Transaction Monitoring — Implement automated systems to detect and block transactions that may involve sanctioned parties
5. License Management — Maintain documentation for all General License reliance determinations and specific license grants
6. Voluntary Self-Disclosure — When violations are discovered internally, consult with OFAC sanctions lawyers before deciding whether and how to self-disclose

OFAC Penalties for Sanctioned Countries Violations

Violations of OFAC sanctions — including transactions with OFAC sanctioned countries — carry severe penalties under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA):

• Civil penalties: Up to $1,000,000 per violation, or twice the value of the prohibited transaction — whichever is greater
• Criminal penalties (willful violations): Up to $1,000,000 per violation and/or up to 20 years imprisonment
• Strict liability: Civil penalties apply even if the violation was inadvertent or the person was unaware of the sanctions
• Aggravating factors: Willful concealment, senior management involvement, or large transaction size increase penalty severity
• Mitigating factors: Voluntary self-disclosure, cooperation, existence of a compliance program, and no prior violations can significantly reduce penalties

If your business has conducted or is considering transactions involving any country on the OFAC sanctioned countries list, consulting with our experienced OFAC compliance lawyers can help you avoid violations, structure compliant transactions, and respond effectively if enforcement action is threatened.

Frequently Asked Questions: OFAC Sanctioned Countries

Which countries are completely banned by OFAC?

Four countries are subject to comprehensive OFAC sanctions where virtually all transactions require a license: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria. Transactions with these countries, their governments, residents, and businesses are broadly prohibited without OFAC authorization.

Is Russia on the OFAC sanctioned countries list?

Yes. Russia is subject to extensive targeted sanctions programs under multiple Executive Orders, primarily EO 14024 (2022) and related Ukraine-conflict executive orders. These include broad restrictions on financial institutions, defense-related entities, technology exports, and SDN designations for oligarchs and government officials. However, Russia is not comprehensively sanctioned — many transactions remain permitted with proper screening.

Can US companies do business in OFAC sanctioned countries?

It depends on the program. In comprehensively sanctioned countries (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria), virtually no business is permitted without an OFAC license. In countries with targeted sanctions, business is generally permitted with non-sanctioned parties after proper SDN screening and sector compliance review. Many transactions can also be authorized via General Licenses issued by OFAC.

How often does the OFAC sanctions list get updated?

OFAC updates the SDN list frequently — sometimes multiple times per week. Updates include new designations, amendments to existing entries, and removals. Businesses must use real-time screening tools or subscribe to OFAC update notifications to remain compliant.