16/10/2021
An example of this is in the Iran sanctions with respect to inheritances. If a U.S. citizen living in the United States has a family member in Iran who passes away and leaves them property, they are allowed to sell the property and move that money from Iran to the United States by going through the proper channels. All of this can be performed without applying for a specific license.
Without this general license, the inheritance-related transaction would be prohibited. Having an attorney evaluate your transaction for compliance with a general license is one way to protect yourself from inadvertently violating the law. You can see a copy of a general license issued by the Treasury Department here.