On September 18, 2023, the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) established a new humanitarian channel (HC) in Qatar to facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Iranian people. This HC is designed to help Iranians access essential items like food, agricultural goods, medicine, and medical devices, while ensuring that the funds involved are used for these purposes and not misappropriated. It’s meant to complement existing banking channels used for humanitarian trade, which are authorized under existing exemptions and OFAC authorizations.
OFAC has issued two new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the HC:
- FAQ 1,134 clarifies that the HC does not permit funds to be released to the Government of Iran or payments to Iranian companies. The U.S. will collaborate with the Government of Qatar and financial institutions managing the HC to ensure that the funds are used only for approved humanitarian purchases, preventing their misuse by Iran.
- FAQ 1,135 specifies that parties interested in engaging in transactions related to humanitarian trade with Iran under existing exceptions and authorizations can continue to do so independently of the HC.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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