NSPM-2

National Security Presidential memorandum 2 (NSPM-2) is the Trump administration's national security framework governing use of economic tools against Iran, instructing the US government to deny Iran's IRGC access to assets and resources that sustain its destabilising activities. On 24 April 2026, OFAC designated 14 entities — including Mahan Air aircraft EP-MTB — under NSPM-2 authority, cited in press release sb0465.

NSPMs are internal presidential directives that set policy frameworks for executive agencies. NSPM-2 provides a standing authorisation for rolling designations against Iran's missile, drone, shadow-banking and crypto-evasion networks without requiring case-by-case presidential approval. The Federal Register docketed sb0465 as document 2026-07994 on 24 April, confirming on-schedule instrument production.

NSPM-2 has since functioned as the operational backbone of the entire Economic Fury sanctions track: OFAC cited it again for the 27 May designation of Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority and the 10 June designation of nine China and Hong Kong entities, both issued on pre-war authority with no new signed instrument, even as the Federal Register recorded zero fresh Iran filings between 29 June and 2 July. Unlike executive orders, NSPMs may remain partially classified; the precise scope of NSPM-2's authorisations is known only through the designations it continues to generate.