Sanctions Library
OFAC FAQs
Questions about OFAC sanctions, licenses, blocked funds, or the SDN list? Find answers to frequently-asked questions, including:
- What is OFAC?
- Who must comply with OFAC regulations?
- What can I do if my funds were blocked?
OFAC LIST REMOVAL
Individuals and companies who are sanctioned by OFAC are said to be "designated" and they are added to the OFAC list, which is formally known as the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (or "SDN List"). SDNs can seek removal from the OFAC list by submitting a delisting petition.
Read about the steps involved in the OFAC delisting process »
SANCTIONS INSIGHTS & UPDATES
The US government has ramped up sanctions enforcement efforts. Read our analysis on recent OFAC actions and other sanctions topics.
- July 2026: OFAC Sanctions Roundup: Iran Shipping Network, Ransomware Enablers, and Khamenei-Linked Assets
OFAC took three designation actions between July 10 and July 14, 2026. Two target Iran and are expressly framed as a response to Iran’s resumption of attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz; the third targets the service providers behind ransomware operations. Two features cut across all three and warrant attention. - July 2026: OFAC Launches New Reconsideration Portal for Sanctions Delisting Petitions
OFAC announced the launch of a new online Reconsideration Portal for persons, entities, and property owners seeking removal from an OFAC-administered sanctions list. - June 2026: Advisory on Recent OFAC Enforcement: Adani Enterprises Limited and FTI Consulting, Inc.
OFAC settlements continue to reinforce a key message: sophisticated, U.S. and foreign companies will be held responsible for the economic realities of their transactions.
EXPERIENCED SANCTIONS COUNSEL
Attorneys from LBKM advise clients, both US and foreign, on a wide variety of sanctions-related issues, including OFAC compliance, delisting petitions, enforcement actions, and criminal investigations. We have deep expertise in this area from the public sector experience of former prosecutors who investigated and prosecuted OFAC matters, compliance officials who can guide companies through OFAC compliance, and skilled regulatory and administrative lawyers who can petition OFAC and fight to remove designations.
OFAC sanctions are an ever-shifting field of regulatory enforcement. Clients must stay aware of constant changes in the scope and coverage of US sanctions, as well as the political themes that determine where OFAC is focusing attention.