meta_id 3133675

On May 7, 2026, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a division of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, issued Cuba General License 1, "Transactions Authorized Pursuant to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations." Concurrently, OFAC released six new Cuba-related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs 1251-1256) and updated its Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). The SDN List updates include the addition of five individuals and four entities. The individuals added include Mohammed Issa Kadhim Al Shuwaili, Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly, Mustafa Hashim Lazim Al-Behadili, Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, and Ahmed Khudair Maksus. These designations target individuals linked to Iran-backed terrorist militias operating in Iraq and Cuban government officials. The entities added to the list include Gulf Energy for General Transport and Marine Services and Real Estate Consultancy LLC, Gulf Energy Oil Services Limited, Gulf General Contracting Limited, and Iraq International Energy for the Import and Sale for Petroleum Products Limited. These entities are based in Iraq and operate in the petroleum and transportation sectors, with secondary sanctions risk under Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886. OFAC also made updates to existing SDN List entries for Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA) and Moa Nickel SA, both Cuban entities, adding entity codes and expanded organisational information to their designations. The updates reflect OFAC's ongoing enforcement of sanctions programmes targeting terrorism financing, Iran-related activities, and Cuban government entities. The issuance of the Cuba General License provides authorised transactions under the Cuban Assets Control Regulations.