Department of Treasury

    The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of Treasury is responsible for the administration and enforcement of economic and trade sanctions against targeted foreign governments, individuals, entities, and practices based on foreign policy and national security goals, including terrorists and international narcotics traffickers and those engaged activities related to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.  Trade sanctions may prohibit a number of activities of US citizens abroad, such as the transfer of items and services “of value” and travel embargoes to sanctioned nations.  OFAC maintains the list of embargoed countries and a summary of the embargoes.  As of 2010 the strictest embargoes have been imposed on Iran and Cuba.

    OFAC also maintains lists of Specially Designated Terrorists and Specially Designated National and Blocked Persons (SDNL) with whom U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions due to U.S. foreign policy and national security concerns.  Transfers of items and information to individuals or entities on these lists are prohibited without the prior approval of OFAC.  You should follow the guidelines below relating to the SDNL.

    It is reasonable to assume that any transaction with OFAC embargoed countries should be reviewed to ensure that a general or specific license from OFAC is not required.  License exemptions are very limited for these countries, particularly for Cuba and Iran.

    To determine what limits there might be to your research, conference and travel plans to embargoed countries or regions please contact Eileen Nielsen