• Balkans-related
• Belarus
• Burundi
• Central African Republic
• China
• Counter Narcotics Trafficking
• Counter Terrorism
• Cuba
• Cyber Related
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Iran
• Iraq-related
• Lebanon-related
• Libya
• Magnitsky
• Non-Proliferation
• North Korea
• Rough Diamond Trade Controls
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Syria
• Transnational Criminal Organizations
• Ukraine-related
• Venezuela
• Yemen
• Zimbabwe

Some of these programs severely restrict transactions — for instance, the transfer of anything of value, other than small gifts or humanitarian aid, with Iran or anyone in Iran is prohibited, although transactions with citizens of Iran who are not members of the Iran government when they are outside Iran are permitted. Other programs are less likely to restrict activities the RPI community would engage in. 

OFAC also maintains the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (the SDN list) of individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries, as well as individuals, groups, and entities, such as terrorists and narcotics traffickers designated under programs that are not country-specific. Their assets are blocked and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.  

The government maintains a current list of 35 various restrictions. You can check most of these using the National Export Initiative’s consolidated list, or consult RPI’s Export Control Officer.

IT IS REQUIRED THAT THE OFAC LIST BE CHECKED FREQUENTLY, AS THE LIST IS CHANGED WITHOUT NOTICE, AND NOT COMPLYING WITH THE MOST CURRENT RESTRICTION IS A VIOALTION PUNISHABLE BY LAW.

Program Tag Definitions for OFAC Sanctions Lists

Note, visiting the OFAC website, that the codes or "tags" following each sanctions list entry indicate the sanctions program pursuant to which the person has been blocked, designated, or identified.  Each sanctions list entry may have multiple program tags.  Examples of the list appear below.

ITAR  Country Policies and Embargoes

This chart does not include all policies toward foreign countries for the export of defense articles and defense services. It includes certain policies published in the Federal Register, an official U.S. Government publication that should be consulted regularly to ensure up-to-date awareness of published country policies. All submissions to DDTC are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. There is no resumption of approval for submissions, and DDTC may disapprove applications that are not in furtherance of the national security or foreign policy of the United States, or for any other reason listed in ITAR §126.7.

Country Date Federal Regulation Comments

Afghanistan

• June 27, 1996 61 FR 33313 (PDF, 12KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• May 8, 2001 66 FR 23310 (PDF, 34KB) Denial Policy to territory of Afghanistan under
• Taliban control and all of Afghanistan
• July 2, 2002 67 FR 44352 (PDF, 32KB) Denial Policy to Afghanistan except for Government of Afghanistan and ISAF
• August 8, 2011 76 FR 47990 (PDF, 188KB) Amendment to ITAR §126. Denial policy except for Government of Afghanistan and coalition forces.
• December 31, 2012 77 FR 76864 (PDF, 203KB) Amendment to ITAR §120.32 to identify Afghanistan as a Major Non-NATO Ally.

Belarus

•  July 22, 1993 58 FR 39280 (PDF, 7.1MB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1

Burma

• June 16, 1993 58 FR 33293 (PDF, 99KB) Department of State Suspension Notice
• July 22, 1993 58 FR 39280 (PDF, 7.1MB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1

Central African Republic

• April 17th, 2014 79 FR 21616 (PDF, 34KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1

China (PR)

• June 7, 1989 54 FR 24539 (PDF, 64KB) Department of State Suspension Notice
• July 22, 1993 58 FR 39280 (PDF, 7.1MB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1

Cuba

• December 6, 1984 49 FR 47682 (PDF, 5MB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1

Cyprus

• December 18, 1992 57 FR 60265 (PDF, 46KB) Department of State Denial Notice; does not affect export for the UN forces in Cyprus (UNFICYP) or for civilian end-users
• August 8, 2011 76 FR 47990 (PDF, 188KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Denial policy, except for exports for UNFICYP and civilian end-users.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

• April 29, 1993 58 FR 26024 (PDF, 109KB) Department of State Suspension Notice
• July 22, 1993 58 FR 39280 (PDF, 7.1MB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• February 17, 2004 69 FR 7349 (PDF, 38KB) Modified Denial policy to DROC
• August 30, 2005 70 FR 50966 (PDF, 50KB) Further modification of Denial Policy to the DROC.
• December 18, 2007 72 FR 71575 (PDF, 53KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• August 8, 2011 76 FR 47990 (PDF, 188KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Denial policy, with certain exceptions.
• September 29, 2016 81 FR 66804 (PDF, 230KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Further modification of the denial policy with certain exceptions.

Eritrea

• March 6, 2006 71 FR 11281 (PDF, 46KB) Department of State Suspension Notice
• October 6, 2008 73 FR 58041 (PDF, 47KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• August 8, 2011 76 FR 47990 (PDF, 188KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Added to list of countries subject to a UN Security Council arms embargo.
• September 29, 2016 81 FR 66804 (PDF, 230KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Denial policy with certain exceptions.

Haiti

• October 9, 1991 56 FR 50968 (PDF, 73KB) Department of State Suspension Notice
• April 4, 1994 59 FR 15624 (PDF, 265KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• October 4, 2006 71 FR 58496 (PDF, 58KB) Partial Lifting of Arms Embargo
• February 29, 2012 77 FR 12201 (PDF, 143KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1

Iran 

• January 23, 1984 49 FR 2836 (PDF, 122KB) Department of State Notice designating Iran as a terrorist country
• October 29,1991 56 FR 55630 (PDF, 178KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• December 18, 2007 72 FR 71575 (PDF, 53KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1

Iraq 

• August 3, 1990 55 FR 31808 (PDF, 75KB) Department of State Revocation Notice
• September 13, 1990 55 FR 37793 (PDF, 26KB) Department of State Notice designating Iraq as a terrorist country
• October 29, 1991 56 FR 55630 (PDF, 178KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• November 21, 2003 68 FR 65633 (PDF, 35KB) Denial policy to Iraq except for Iraqi military or police force required by Coalition Provisional Authority.
• April 9, 2004 69 FR 18810 (PDF, 57KB) Denial policy to Iraq except for nonlethal military equipment, lethal military equipment for use by reconstituted (or interim) Iraqi military or police force, and small arms for use for private security purposes.
• December 18, 2007 72 FR 71575 (PDF, KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• August 8, 2011 76 FR 47990 (PDF, 188KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Denial policy except for non-lethal military equipment, and lethal military equipment for the Government of Iraq and coalition forces.

Kyrgyzstan

• April 9, 2010 Notice (PDF, 244KB) Notice on Exports to the Kyrgyz Republic

Lebanon

• December 15, 2006 71 FR 75609 (PDF, KB) Department of State Suspension Notice
• December 18, 2007 72 FR 71575 (PDF, 53KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• August 8, 2011 76 FR 47990 (PDF, 188KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Denial policy except for exports for UNIFIL and as authorized by the Government of Lebanon.

Libya

• October 29, 1991 56 FR 55630 (PDF, 178KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• February 7, 2007 72 FR 05614 (PDF, 59KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• May 24, 2011 76 FR 30001 (PDF, 181KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Denial policy, with certain exceptions.
• September 23, 2011 Notice (PDF, 54KB) Notice to Exporters
• November 4, 2011 76 FR 68313 (PDF, 142KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1.
• March 4, 2013 Notice (PDF, 36KB) Direct Commercial Sales Exports to Libya
• March 14, 2013 Notice (MHT, 89KB) Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations
• Support Mission in Libya for Twelve Months, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 2095 (2013)
• May 10, 2013 Notice (PDF, 41KB) Direct Commercial Sales of Defense Articles and Services to Libya

North Korea

• December 6, 1984 49 FR 47682 (PDF, 5MB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• December 18, 2007 72 FR 71575 (PDF, 53KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• August 8, 2011 76 FR 47990 (PDF, 188KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Removed from “Terrorism” section; denial policy continues.

Russia

• April 28, 2014 Press Release United States Expands Export Restrictions on Russia

Somalia

• December 16, 1992 57 FR 59851 (PDF, 101KB) Department of State Suspension Notice
• July 22, 1993 58 FR 39280 (PDF, 7.1MB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• May 22, 2007 72 FR 28602 (PDF, 50KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• December 18, 2007 72 FR 71575 (PDF, 53KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• August 8, 2011 76 FR 47990 (PDF, 188KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Denial policy, with certain exceptions.
• September 29, 2016 81 FR 66804 (PDF, 230KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Further modification of the denial policy with certain exceptions.

Sudan

• November 3, 1993 58 FR 49741 (PDF, 108KB) Department of State Suspension Notice
• October 8, 1993 58 FR 52523 (PDF, 9KB) Department of State Notice designating Sudan as a country supporting terrorism
• April 4, 1994 59 FR 15624 (PDF, 265KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• January 18, 2007 72 FR 02326 (PDF, 51KB) Determination to provide non-lethal assistance to the Gov. of Southern Sudan
• May 9, 2007 72 FR 26281 (PDF, 33KB) Presidential Determination
• December 18, 2007 72 FR 71575 (PDF, 53KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1
• May 16, 2008 73 FR 28545 (PDF, 51KB) Determination to provide non-lethal assistance under ITAR jurisdiction to the Gov. of Southern Sudan
• November 9, 2011 76 FR 69612 (PDF, 143KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1 to include the Republic of the Sudan as a proscribed destination, and to clarify that this policy does not apply to the Republic of South Sudan.

Syria

• October 29, 1991 56 FR 55630 (PDF, 178KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1

Venezuela

• August 17, 2006 71 FR 47554 (PDF, 45KB) Department of State Notice on Revocation and Denial of Defense Export Licenses
• February 7, 2007 72 FR 5614 (PDF, 59KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1

Zimbabwe

• April 17, 2002 67 FR 18978 (PDF, 34KB) Department of State Suspension Notice
• July 23, 2002 67 FR 48242 (PDF, 39KB) Use of Exemption at §123.7
• August 8, 2011 76 FR 47990 (PDF, 188KB) Amendment to ITAR §126.1. Denial policy, with one exception (temporary export of firearms for individual use).

ITAR Countries subject to certain prohibitions:

(1) For defense articles and defense services, the following countries have a policy of denial:

• Belarus
• Burma
• China
• Cuba
• Iran
• North Korea
• Syria
• Venezuela

(2) For defense articles and defense services, a policy of denial applies to the following countries except as specified in the associated paragraphs below:

EAR Broad Based Controls

Comprehensive controls:

• § 746.2 CUBA
• § 746.7 IRAN
• § 746.9 SYRIA

Sanctions on selected categories of items to specific destinations. 

(1) BIS controls the export and reexport of selected categories of items to countries under United Nations Security Council arms embargoes. See the Commerce Control List in Supplement No. 1 to Part 774. See also §§ 746.3 (Iraq) and 746.4 (North Korea).

(2) The countries subject to United Nations Security Council arms embargoes are: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, and Sudan.

Sanctions:

• § 746.3 IRAQ
• § 746.4 NORTH KOREA
• § 746.5 RUSSIAN INDUSTRY SECTOR SANCTIONS
• § 746.6 CRIMEA REGION OF UKRAINE
• § 746.7 IRAN
• § 746.9 SYRIA