Washington Issues Wind-Down Licence as New Iran Sanctions Hit Ten Individuals, 24 Firms and 20 Ships

The US Treasury Department has granted a temporary general licence valid until 12 September 2026 allowing businesses and individuals to legally wind down transactions involving newly sanctioned Iranian-linked persons and vessels. The move comes after Washington expanded its sanctions list to include a dual Iranian-Russian national alongside dozens of entities and ships.

US Treasury Opens a Narrow Window But Slams the Door on Iran and Russia

The United States Treasury Department issued a general licence on 15 July 2026. It permits limited wind-down transactions involving persons and vessels newly placed under American sanctions tied to Iran. The licence carries a firm deadline 00:01 Eastern Daylight Time on 12 September 2026.

New Names, New Ships, New Restrictions

Washington simultaneously expanded its Iran sanctions list adding ten individuals, 24 companies and 20 vessels. Among those newly designated is Ali Rahbarmadani a national holding both Iranian and Russian citizenship. His inclusion signals Washington’s continued pressure on dual-nationality actors navigating the Iran sanctions landscape.

What the Licence Actually Allows

The Treasury document spells out a specific set of permitted activities. Entities holding transactions with newly blocked persons or vessels may continue but only to wind them down safely before the September deadline.

Permitted actions under the licence include the following safe anchoring and port entry for sanctioned vessels, though Iranian and Russian ports remain explicitly off-limits; measures to protect crew health and safety aboard sanctioned ships; emergency repair work and steps to prevent environmental damage; and the orderly unwinding of financial dealings with newly sanctioned individuals or entities.

Cargo Rules Come With a Hard Cutoff

The licence also covers delivery and discharge of cargo involving sanctioned vessels but with a clear condition. Any cargo in question must have been loaded on or before 14 July 2026. Additionally, delivery and discharge cannot take place at any port located in or under the control of Iran or Russia.

The Bigger Picture

The licence does not signal any softening of Washington’s Iran policy. It is a standard wind-down mechanism giving businesses and operators a legal path to exit dealings with newly sanctioned parties without immediate penalty. The September deadline leaves little room for delay. Any transaction or operation falling outside the licence’s permitted scope or extending beyond its deadline risks full sanctions exposure under US law.