OFAC Issues General Licenses 24A and 59: Operational Relief for Telecommunications, Mail Services, and Aviation Safety

On June 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a critical series of updates regarding the Venezuela sanctions program. This includes the issuance of General Licenses (GL) 24A and 59.

These actions must be analyzed against the foundational backdrop of Executive Order (E.O.) 13884, which comprehensively blocks all property and interests in property of the Government of Venezuela (GOV) — including its agencies, instrumentalities, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), and the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) — that come within the United States or the possession of a U.S. person. Under E.O. 13884, the provision or receipt of funds, goods, or services to or from the GOV remains strictly prohibited.

The latest updates carve out targeted operational relief for telecommunications, mail, and aviation safety.

The most significant updates include:

• Operational Relief for Telecommunications and Mail (GL 24A): Effectively replacing the 2019 GL 24, the newly issued GL 24A authorizes transactions involving the GOV that are ordinarily incident to the receipt and transmission of telecommunications. Furthermore, it grants authorization for common carriers to engage in transactions involving the GOV that are incident to the receipt or transmission of mail and packages to, from, or within Venezuela.
• Aviation Maintenance and Airworthiness Exemption (GL 59): Providing crucial relief for operational safety, GL 59 authorizes transactions involving the blocked state-owned airline Consorcio Venezolano de Industrias Aeronáuticas y Servicios Aéreos, S.A. (Conviasa) and its blocked aircraft. U.S. persons are now authorized to provide goods, technology, software, and services necessary for the maintenance, repair, upgrade, refurbishment, and safety of Conviasa aircraft. Authorized transactions explicitly encompass the processing of payments, customs clearance, logistics, and the supply of aircraft parts and software updates.

Unaltered Compliance Guardrails

Despite the newfound operational flexibility for aviation and telecommunications, OFAC maintains rigorous financial and geopolitical controls. Covered entities operating under these licenses must continue navigating the following strict boundaries: }

• Prohibited Payment Mechanisms: Transactions involving debt swaps, payments in gold, or utilizing Venezuelan digital currencies (including the petro) remain expressly prohibited under GL 59. Furthermore, any payment terms utilized must be "commercially reasonable".
• Geopolitical Exclusions: Across the board, transactions involving individuals, entities, or joint ventures linked to the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, or the People's Republic of China remain strictly barred.
• Prohibition on Military and Intelligence Dealings: GL 59 explicitly excludes any transactions involving military or intelligence operations or activities.

Disclaimer: This report is prepared for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The interpretation and application of OFAC sanctions regulations are a complex area of U.S. Law. Companies are strongly encouraged to consult qualified U.S. sanctions counsel before taking any action in reliance on these updated General Licenses. Information is current as of the date of publication.