US Sanctions Regime on Iran

The United States has imposed comprehensive sanctions on Iran under multiple legislative instruments, including the Iran Sanctions Act and the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). These sanctions generally prohibit American persons and entities — and through secondary sanctions, third-country entities — from conducting significant transactions with Iran. However, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has the authority to issue specific waivers for humanitarian or strategic projects. Chabahar received such a waiver owing to its importance as a non-military, civilian trade and humanitarian transit corridor.