Financial sanctions are measures imposed by governments or international organizations to restrict access to financial resources. These sanctions can target specific individuals, companies, or entire countries, aiming to influence behavior or deter actions that are deemed harmful, such as terrorism or human rights violations. Typically, financial sanctions may include freezing assets, prohibiting transactions, or limiting access to international financial markets. They serve as a tool for foreign policy, allowing nations to exert pressure without resorting to military action, and are often enforced through regulatory bodies like the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in the United States.