Designated persons are added to OFAC’s SDN/blocked lists: all property and interests in the United States or in the possession/control of U.S. persons are frozen (“blocked”) and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from transacting with them. Entities 50%‑owned by blocked persons are also blocked. Violations can trigger civil monetary penalties and criminal prosecution; OFAC enforces on a strict‑liability basis and requires reporting of blocked property. Specific regulatory licensing exceptions may apply.
The six officials: Eskandar Momeni Kalagari (Iran’s Minister of Interior); Majid Khademi (IRGC Intelligence Organization leader); Ghorban Mohammad Valizadeh (commander, IRGC’s Seyyad al‑Shohada Corps, Tehran province); Hossein Zare Kamali (IRGC commander, Hamadan province); Hamid Damghani (IRGC commander, Gilan province); Mehdi Hajian (LEF commander, Kermanshah province). The designated investor: Babak Morteza Zanjani. (OFAC also designated two Zanjani‑linked digital asset exchanges.)
NSPM‑2 is a presidential directive (link published by the White House) that directs a policy of “maximum pressure” on Iran to deny the regime revenue used for destabilizing activities; Treasury says NSPM‑2 undergirds its campaign to target Iran’s shadow banking, money‑laundering and sanctions‑evasion networks and to curtail petroleum/petrochemical revenue flows.
E.O. 13553 authorizes sanctions related to serious human‑rights abuses by the Government of Iran (blocking officials responsible for abuses). E.O. 13224 is a counter‑terrorism authority to block persons who materially support terrorism. E.O. 13902 targets Iran’s financial, petroleum, and petrochemical sectors (restricting entities operating in those sectors). They differ by legal basis and policy focus—human‑rights abuses (13553), terrorism finance (13224), and sectoral economic pressure on Iran’s oil/finance sectors (13902).
Implementation is led by Treasury’s OFAC: it adds designated names to the SDN/blocked lists, issues blocking orders, and enforces prohibitions on U.S. persons (including banks and fintechs). OFAC works with financial regulators and international partners, can impose civil/criminal penalties, and issues guidance or licenses (e.g., internet‑access general licenses) to clarify exceptions. Financial institutions must freeze and report blocked assets and screen payments for links to designated parties.
The designations target officials and specific entities; U.S. sanctions include humanitarian exceptions and OFAC frequently issues licenses or guidance to protect humanitarian assistance and internet access. However, secondary effects (reduced trade, banking reluctance, and sanctions‑compliance costs) can hinder ordinary Iranians’ access to goods and services. Treasury’s press release highlights a longstanding general license (GL D‑2) facilitating Iranian people’s internet access and says OFAC will expedite related authorizations.
Treasury’s OFAC press release titled “Treasury Sanctions Iranian Regime Officials for Violent Repression and Corruption” (January 30, 2026) is available on the U.S. Treasury website; the State Department statement also links to it.