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Overview of Selected U.S. Sanctions on Iran

Last Updated: September 9, 2026 3:41:21 PM PDT
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Engagement with Iran is governed by complex and evolving U.S. regulatory restrictions. Consult with UC San Diego Export Control (export@ucsd.edu) before engaging in any manner (including remotely) with individuals located or ordinarily residing in Iran or Iranians not currently holding a valid visa for entry to the U.S. Export can assist in determining whether an OFAC license is necessary and applying for the license.The U.S. federal government maintains comprehensive sanctions on Iran pursuant to various laws and regulations, including the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 560 (the “ITSR”).

To summarize these sanctions, U.S. persons (U.S. citizens, permanent residents, those in protected status or entities incorporated in the U.S.) are prohibited from:

  1. Providing services to Iran;

  2. Receiving services performed by an Iranian;

  3. Engaging in financial transactions directly or indirectly with Iran;

  4. Engaging in transactions relating to Iranian-origin goods or services; or

  5. Receiving Iranian-origin goods.

These activities are prohibited, unless an Exempt Transaction, ITSR Defined Authorization, General License, or Specific License is applicable.

Please note: Many activities previously authorized without requiring a specific license are no longer permitted as of 24 August 2026. This includes educational activities, educational services, academic exchanges, personal remittances, and other activities with individuals in Iran, or ordinarily a resident of Iran. We acknowledge that these changes are challenging and have real impacts on our community and work.

OFAC sanctions violations can result in individual criminal or civil penalties.

 

Common Academic Activities Requiring a License Review

Due to the suspension of several OFAC General Licenses on 24 August 2026, many activities now require a license that previously did not.

If any of these or other scenarios apply to your UC San Diego activities, please reach out to export@ucsd.edu for assistance well in advance of the activity. When a license is required, OFAC may take up to a year to process and provide authorization (which is not guaranteed).

 

Recruitment admission and enrollment

  • Recruitment of students, faculty, researchers, postdoctoral scholars, visiting scholars, and medical residents who are ordinarily resident in Iran and do not already hold a U.S. visa.

  • Applications admission enrollment and related financial transactions involving individuals located in or ordinarily resident in Iran.

 

Online course participation

  • Teaching from Iran to students located in the United States.

  • Taking courses while located in Iran.

  • Taking courses from outside Iran while temporarily away from Iran, unless the student holds a current U.S. visa.

 

Research and collaboration

  • Research conducted in Iran.

  • Collaboration with an individual located in Iran or considered ordinarily resident in Iran.

  • Publishing activities involving Iran require advance consultation to determine whether an exception applies or a license is required.

 

Events

  • Participation in conferences or other remote or online events hosted in Iran.

  • Participation by individuals ordinarily resident in Iran in remote or online events hosted in the United States.

 

Travel and transportation

  • All travel to Iran.

  • Transporting equipment, items, materials, software, or data to Iran.

 

Technology access

  • Use of Duo, which is currently unavailable in Iran and other comprehensively sanctioned countries.

  • Providing software or data to students or employees in the United States on a valid visa requires confirmation from Export Control that the software or data are EAR99 or publicly available.

References