Overview
Due to comprehensive U.S. sanctions applicable to Iran, most transactions, services, and other activities involving Iran, persons located in Iran, Iranian institutions, or the Government of Iran are prohibited unless exempt or specifically authorized by the U.S. Government.
All new or previously unreviewed UCSF activities involving Iran, Iranian institutions, or persons located in Iran must be reviewed by Research Security and Export Control before proceeding. This includes research and academic collaborations, publication or co-authorship relationships, educational activities, conferences, payments or support, travel, shipments, and transfers of data, software, technology, equipment, biological materials, or other research resources.
Activities that were previously reviewed and approved by Export Control may continue in accordance with that approval if a specific OFAC license was issued for the activity and remains valid, or if Export Control confirms that the activity remains authorized under another applicable exemption or authorization. Activities must be re-reviewed if the activity changes, the prior approval relied on an OFAC authorization affected by the August 24, 2026, suspension, or Research Security and Export Control advises otherwise.
Contact [email protected] as early as possible and before beginning or making a commitment related to a new Iran-related activity, modifying a previously approved activity, or continuing an activity for which you are uncertain whether the prior approval remains valid.
Important OFAC Update
On August 24, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) indefinitely suspended several general licenses under the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations that previously authorized certain academic, educational, conference, and other activities involving Iran. The suspended authorizations include Iran General License G, certain educational activities under 31 C.F.R. § 560.544, and certain conference-related services under 31 C.F.R. § 560.554.
OFAC also issued General License BB, which provides a limited authorization through September 8, 2026, for certain transactions ordinarily incident and necessary to wind down activities that were previously authorized under the suspended general licenses.
Because the availability of these prior authorizations has changed, any new or previously unreviewed UCSF activity involving Iran, an Iranian institution, or a person located in Iran must be reviewed by UCSF Research Security and Export Control before it is initiated.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Research and academic collaborations
- Funded or unfunded activities
- Teaching, mentoring, advising, or other educational services
- Conferences or academic exchanges
- Sharing data, software, technology, equipment, biological materials, or other research resources
- Payments, research support, reimbursements, or sponsored travel
- Shipping or receiving items or materials
- Publication or co-authorship relationships
Do not initiate a new activity, modify an existing activity, or continue an activity that has not previously been reviewed and approved until Research Security and Export Control has completed its review. If a prior approval may have relied on one of the OFAC authorizations suspended on August 24, 2026, or you are uncertain whether the approval remains valid, contact Export Control before proceeding.