The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued a new general license, No. 23A, which pertains to transactions involving Ansarallah under the Foreign Terrorist Organizations Sanctions Regulations (FTOSR) and Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations (GTSR). According to the license, specific telecommunications transactions within Yemen involving Ansarallah, where Ansarallah owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, are authorized. This exemption allows for the receipt or transmission of telecommunications, excluding the provision, sale, or lease of telecommunications equipment, technology, or capacity on telecommunications transmission facilities such as satellite or terrestrial network activity.
Additionally, the license permits the exportation or provision of certain internet-based services, software, hardware, or technology from the United States or by U.S. persons to Yemen. These services relate to online activities like messaging, social networking, and e-learning platforms. However, the exempt activities must not involve any person whose property and interests are blocked under the GTSR or FTOSR.
OFAC also allows transactions of common carriers involving mail and packages between the United States and Yemen, or within Yemen, involving Ansarallah. Again, the condition is that such mail and packages must not relate to any person blocked by GTSR or FTOSR.
The new license does not authorize financial transfers to any blocked person except for specific purposes, such as paying taxes, fees or purchasing licenses or public utility services. It prohibits transactions with any blocked person unless they fall within the specified exceptions in the license or are otherwise authorized.
General License No. 23A, effective as of March 5, 2025, replaces and supersedes the previous General License No. 23 from January 17, 2024.