OFAC adds Iraq-linked individuals and oil-service firms to SDN List
Sanctions teams must screen new SDNs, aliases and Linked To relationships
Change
OFAC added individuals and entities to the SDN List on May 7, 2026, including Iraq-linked persons and oil-service, marine-service and contracting firms carrying aliases, secondary-sanctions risk and Linked To relationships.
Why it matters
The update creates an immediate screening and blocking boundary for transactions involving the newly listed persons, entities and related identifiers. Screening teams must add direct names and aliases first, then use passport details, business registration numbers, addresses and OFAC Linked To relationships as match-resolution or escalation inputs where available.
Implications
- — Bank sanctions-screening teams must update interdiction filters for the newly listed individuals and entities, including AL SHUWAILI, AL-BAHADLY, AL-BEHADILI, MAKSUS, GULF ENERGY FOR GENERAL TRANSPORT AND MARINE SERVICES AND REAL ESTATE CONSULTANCY LLC, GULF ENERGY OIL SERVICES LIMITED, GULF GENERAL CONTRACTING LIMITED and IRAQ INTERNATIONAL ENERGY FOR THE IMPORT AND SALE FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS LIMITED — processing transactions involving these SDNs creates blocking and escalation exposure.
- — Sanctions compliance teams must treat OFAC Linked To relationships as escalation context alongside direct-name screening, including ties to QASIR, Ali; SAID, Salim Ahmed; ASA'IB AHL AL-HAQ; KATA'IB SAYYID AL-SHUHADA; and AL-BEHADILI, Mustafa Hashim Lazim — missing linked relationships weakens review of OFAC-connected counterparties.
- — Oil, marine-services and trade-finance compliance teams must use aliases, addresses and business registration numbers to resolve possible matches against the listed Iraq-based oil-service, transport and contracting firms — name-only screening can miss exact matches or create avoidable false positives where supporting identifiers are available.
Who is affected
- — Bank sanctions-screening teams
- — Sanctions compliance teams
- — Oil, marine-services and trade-finance compliance teams