The US Treasury Department issued new sanctions targeting Iran-related entities on October 1, 2026. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published the updated designations on its official website.

This action expands the existing framework of restrictions against Iran. The specific entities and individuals added to the list are detailed in the OFAC recent actions log.

Regulatory context

The sanctions fall under the authority of the US Treasury. OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on US foreign policy and national security goals.

Market participants should review the full list of designated parties to assess compliance requirements. The publication date is explicitly recorded as October 1, 2026.

US initial jobless claims remained steady at 197,000 in the latest reporting period, matching the prior week's figure. The actual number came in lower than the market consensus estimate of 200,000, indicating a resilient labor market despite expectations of a slight uptick.

Continuing claims decline

Data on continuing claims, which reflect individuals still receiving unemployment benefits after their initial week, showed a decrease. The figure dropped to 1,719,000 from the previous week's 1,730,000. This level also undercut the expected estimate of 1,740,000, suggesting that fewer workers are remaining on unemployment rolls for extended periods.

What the Numbers Show

The divergence between initial and continuing claims highlights distinct labor market dynamics. While new filings for unemployment insurance remained flat at 197K, the total pool of ongoing claimants shrank by 11,000. This pattern suggests that although new layoffs are occurring at a steady pace, the duration of unemployment for existing claimants is not extending, pointing to continued hiring activity absorbing those out of work.