J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.’s  nearly $5.3 million civil settlement quashing allegations that the bank handled dozens of payments benefiting Iranian and Cuban targets of U.S. sanctions in the airline industry suggests the U.S. Treasury Department won’t be lenient with banks that make sanctions-related missteps, several trade law and compliance experts said.

The Oct. 5 enforcement action by the Office of Foreign Assets Control also highlights the importance of following rigorous compliance procedures, they said.