OFAC Counter Terrorism Sanctions

Overview

The Counter Terrorism Sanctions program targets terrorists, terrorist organizations, and their supporters worldwide. It implements multiple legal authorities including executive orders, statutes, and UN Security Council Resolutions to block property and prohibit transactions with persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism. The program encompasses several sub-regimes including Global Terrorism Sanctions, Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions, Terrorism List Governments Sanctions, and Hizballah Financial Sanctions.

Legal bases

• Executive Order 14157 - Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (January 20, 2025)
• Executive Order 13886 - Modernizing Sanctions to Combat Terrorism (September 10, 2019)
• Executive Order 13372 - Clarification of Certain Executive Orders Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions (February 16, 2005)
• Executive Order 13268 - Termination of Emergency With Respect to the Taliban and Amendment of Executive Order 13224 (July 2, 2002)
• Executive Order 13224 - Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism (September 24, 2001)
• Executive Order 13099 - Prohibiting Transactions With Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process (August 21, 1998)
• Executive Order 12947 - Prohibiting Transactions With Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process (January 23, 1995)
• Hamas and Other Palestinian Terrorist Groups International Financing Prevention Act, Public Law 118-50, 138 Stat. 980
• Sanctioning the Use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act, Public Law 115-348
• Strengthening Tools to Counter the Use of Human Shields Act, Public Law 118-50, 138 Stat. 988
• Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2018, Public Law 115-272
• Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015, Public Law 114-102, 129 Stat. 2205
• Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA), 8 U.S.C. § 1189, 18 U.S.C. § 2339B
• International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1706
• National Emergencies Act (NEA), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1601-1651
• Section 5 of the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 (UNPA), 22 U.S.C. § 287c
• 31 CFR Part 566 - Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations
• 31 CFR Part 594 - Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations
• 31 CFR Part 596 - Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations
• 31 CFR Part 597 - Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations
• UNSCR 1526 (January 30, 2004)
• UNSCR 1373 (September 28, 2001)
• UNSCR 1368 (September 12, 2001)
• UNSCR 1267 (October 15, 1999)

Official resources