Counter Terrorism and Iran-related Designations; Cuba Designation and Designations Updates; Issuance of Cuba-related General License and Frequently Asked Questions

Treasury Press Release: Economic Fury Targets Iraqi Oil Official, Iran-Backed Terrorist Militias in Iraq

State Press Release: Sanctioning Iran-Aligned Actors Undermining Iraq’s Sovereignty and Exploiting Its Resources

State Press Release: U.S. Sanctions Target Cuba’s Military Regime, Elites

Additions:

The following individuals have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

OFAC Program: [SDGT] Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 594

AL SHUWAILI, Mohammed Issa Kadhim (Arabic: محمد عيسى كاظم الشويلي)

• AKA: “ABU MARYAM”
• Address: Iraq
• DOB: 19 May 1982
• Nationality: Iraq
• Additional Sanctions Information: Subject to Secondary Sanctions Pursuant to the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: B23828763 (Iraq) expires 08 Feb 2033
• alt. Passport: A12147355 (Iraq) expires 19 May 2025
• Party Type: Individual
• Linked to: QASIR, Ali

Supplemental Information: Al-Shuwaili, operating under the alias Abu Maryam, is a senior official of Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada (KSS), an Iran-aligned terrorist militia. Since at least 2025, he has collaborated directly with Hizballah illicit finance team members, including Ali Qasir, on the purchase and delivery of weapons into Iraq. He also arranged the payment of millions of dollars to Hizballah to facilitate the purchase of weapons and coordinated logistics related to the transfer and delivery of weapons with Hizballah associates. He is designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Ali Qasir.

AL-BEHADILI, Mustafa Hashim Lazim (Arabic: مصطفى هاشم لازم البهادلي)

• AKA:
  • AL BHADLI, Moustafa Hachem Lazem
  • AL-BAHADLI, Mustafa Hashim Lazem
  • LAZIM, Mustafa Hashem
  • LAZM, Mustafa Hashim
  • “AWN, Sayyid”
• Address: Iraq
• DOB: 21 Aug 1980
• Nationality: Iraq
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: B27823144 (Iraq) expires 15 Apr 2033
• alt. Passport: A14930721 (Iraq) expires 22 Jan 2027
• Party Type: Individual
• Linked to: ASA’IB AHL AL-HAQ

Supplemental Information: Al-Behadili, also known as Sayyid Awn, is a leader and economic official for Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq (AAH). Following the U.S. withdrawal from Iraq in 2011, he played an important role in developing an oil trucking and security unit, enabling AAH to become a dominant actor in the Iraqi metals industry and enter the fuel oil sector. Working directly with U.S.-designated AAH senior leader Laith Al-Khazali, he controlled oil smuggling financing and oversaw mineral industry activities. In southern Iraq, he managed oil smuggling operations and AAH projects, using businesses, projects, and government contracts as a front for AAH financial activity. He was also complicit in dealing directly with Iran and the IRGC-Qods Force, negotiating contracts to ship oil from Iran and coordinating with the IRGC-QF on shipping AAH’s oil. He is designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided support for Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq.

MAKSUS, Ahmed Khudair Maksus

• AKA: AL-MAKSUSI, Ahmad Khudayr Maksus
• Address: Iraq
• DOB: 06 Oct 1970
• Nationality: Iraq
• Gender: Male
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Passport: A5885993 (Iraq) expires 02 Jul 2019
• Party Type: Individual
• Linked to: KATA’IB SAYYID AL-SHUHADA

Supplemental Information: Ahmed Khudair Maksus Maksus is the former Deputy Secretary General of Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada (KSS) under U.S.-designated Secretary General Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji. KSS is an Iran-aligned terrorist militia that has planned and executed numerous attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria. He is designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada.

OFAC Program: [IRAN-EO13902] Executive Order 13902

AL-BAHADLY, Ali Maarij (Arabic: علي معارج البهادلي)

• AKA: AL BEHEDILI, Ali Maarij Sewadig
• Address: Baghdad, Iraq; Alamara, Iraq
• DOB: 01 Jul 1966
• POB: Maysan, Iraq
• Nationality: Iraq
• Gender: Male
• Passport: D1019788 (Iraq) expires 30 Jun 2026
• National ID No.: 0041626 (Iraq)
• Party Type: Individual
• Linked to: SAID, Salim Ahmed

Supplemental Information: Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly is Iraq’s Deputy Minister of Oil, who has abused his position to facilitate the diversion of Iraqi oil products to benefit known Iran-affiliated oil smuggler Salim Ahmed Said as well as Iran-backed terrorist militia Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq (AAH). Since 2018, Maarij has held multiple positions in Iraq’s Ministry of Oil, including head of the licensing and contracts office, Deputy Minister, and acting Minister of Oil. In his official capacities, he enabled Said to illicitly procure oil products by granting exportation rights to Said’s companies. He authorized trucking several million dollars’ worth of oil per day from the Qayarah oil field to VS Oil in Khor Zubayr for export, where Iranian oil was mixed with Iraqi oil before being shipped to market. He is also responsible for falsifying documentation on the provenance of oil. He is designated pursuant to E.O. 13902 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided support for Salim Ahmed Said.

OFAC Program: [CUBA-EO] Executive Order 14404

LASTRES MORERA, Ania Guillermina

• Address: Marianao, Havana, Cuba
• DOB: 19 Aug 1962
• POB: Marianao, Cuba
• Nationality: Cuba
• Gender: Female
• Party Type: Individual

Supplemental Information: Lastres is the Executive President of Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), the Cuban military-controlled umbrella enterprise that controls an estimated 40 percent or more of the island’s economy. She is responsible for the management of GAESA’s illicit assets held internationally. She is designated pursuant to section 2(a)(i)(E) of E.O. 14404 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of GAESA.

The following entities have been added to OFAC’s SDN List:

OFAC Program: [SDGT] Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 594

GULF ENERGY FOR GENERAL TRANSPORT AND MARINE SERVICES AND REAL ESTATE CONSULTANCY LLC (Arabic: طاقة الخليج للنقل العام والخدمات البحرية والاستشارات العقارية محدودة المسؤولية)

• AKA:
  • GULF ENERGY COMPANY FOR GENERAL TRANSPORT, MARINE SERVICES & REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS LTD
  • GULF ENERGY FOR GENERAL TRANSPORT, MARINE SERVICES AND REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS COMPANY LTD
• Address: Apartment 3, Building 2/56, Zukak 2, Baghdad, Baghdad Governate, Iraq; Berth 12, Khor Al Zubair Port, Al Basrah, Iraq
• Website: gulfenergy.info
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Organization Established Date: 12 Apr 2010
• Organization Type: Sea and coastal freight water transport
• alt. Organization Type: Transportation and storage
• Company Number: 38676649 (Iraq)
• Linked to: AL-BEHADILI, Mustafa Hashim Lazim

Supplemental Information: One of four Iraqi companies owned or controlled by Mustafa Hashim Lazim Al-Behadili that operate in the oil sector. Designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Mustafa Hashim Lazim Al-Behadili.

GULF ENERGY OIL SERVICES LIMITED (Arabic: طاقة الخليج للخدمات النفطية المحدودة)

• Address: Baghdad, Iraq
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Organization Established Date: 13 Oct 2009
• Organization Type: Support activities for petroleum and natural gas extraction
• Business Registration Number: 73792 (Iraq)
• Linked to: AL-BEHADILI, Mustafa Hashim Lazim

Supplemental Information: One of four Iraqi companies owned or controlled by Mustafa Hashim Lazim Al-Behadili that operate in the oil sector. Designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Mustafa Hashim Lazim Al-Behadili.

GULF GENERAL CONTRACTING LIMITED

• Address: Baghdad, Iraq
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Organization Established Date: 05 Feb 2000
• Business Registration Number: 7249 (Iraq)
• Linked to: AL-BEHADILI, Mustafa Hashim Lazim

Supplemental Information: One of four Iraqi companies owned or controlled by Mustafa Hashim Lazim Al-Behadili that operate in the oil sector. Designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Mustafa Hashim Lazim Al-Behadili.

IRAQ INTERNATIONAL ENERGY FOR THE IMPORT AND SALE FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS LIMITED (Arabic: طاقة العراق الدولية لاستيراد وبيع المنتوجات النفطية المحدودة)

• AKA: IRAQ ENERGY INTERNATIONAL FOR IMPORTING AND SELLING OIL PRODUCTS COMPANY LTD
• Address: Mahala 211, Dar 22, Zukak 11, Harthiya, Baghdad, Iraq
• Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
• Organization Established Date: 25 Jul 2019
• Organization Type: Support activities for petroleum and natural gas extraction
• Business Registration Number: 10365 (Iraq)
• Linked to: AL-BEHADILI, Mustafa Hashim Lazim

Supplemental Information: One of four Iraqi companies owned or controlled by Mustafa Hashim Lazim Al-Behadili that operate in the oil sector. Designated pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended, for being owned, controlled, or directed by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Mustafa Hashim Lazim Al-Behadili.

Amendments:

The following changes have been made to OFAC’s SDN List:

OFAC Programs:

• [CUBA] Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. part 515
• [CUBA-EO] Executive Order 14404

GRUPO DE ADMINISTRACION EMPRESARIAL S.A.

• AKA:
  • GAESA
  • “GRUPO GAE”
• Address: Edificio de la Marina, Avenida Del Puerto Y Brapia, Havana, Cuba
• Organization Established Date: 28 Feb 1999
• Organization Type: Activities of holding companies
• Entity Code: 60446 (Cuba)

Supplemental Information: GAESA is a Cuban military-controlled umbrella enterprise that controls an estimated 40 percent or more of Cuba’s economy. It is involved in various sectors and is designed to generate income for the benefit of the regime’s corrupt elites rather than the Cuban people. Its revenues are estimated at more than three times the state’s budget, and it likely controls up to $20 billion in illicit assets. GAESA was designated by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 2(a)(i)(A) of E.O. 14404 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Cuban economy.

List of Changes:

• Entity Code: Added: 60446 (Cuba)
• Program Tags: Added: [CUBA-EO]

MOA NICKEL SA

• Address: Moa, Cuba
• Organization Established Date: 1994
• Organization Type: Mining of other non-ferrous metal ores

Supplemental Information: MOA NICKEL SA is a joint venture between Sherritt International Corporation and the Cuban state-owned La Compania General de Niquel. It has exploited Cuba’s natural resources to benefit the regime at the expense of the Cuban people, profiting from assets originally expropriated by the Cuban regime from U.S. persons and corporations. Designated pursuant to section 2(a)(i)(A) of E.O. 14404 for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Cuban economy.

List of Changes:

• Address: Changed: Cuba to: Moa, Cuba
• Organization Established Date: Added: 1994
• Organization Type: Added: Mining of other non-ferrous metal ores
• Program Tags: Added: [CUBA-EO]