The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control updated the Cuban Assets Control Regulations to eliminate certain transactions that were previously authorized by a general license, OFAC said in a notice. The update also revises and removes certain authorizations for remittances to Cuba. The changes take effect Oct. 9.

The European Union Permanent Representatives Committee will extend sanctions on people and entities designated for threatening the sovereignty of Ukraine, according to a post on the EU Sanctions blog. The extended sanctions are awaiting approval by the EU Council before they expire on Sept. 15, the post said.

Iran’s foreign ministry sanctioned the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank, Iran said in a Sept. 24 press release. Iran said it placed the FDD on its sanctions list because it is involved in “designing, imposing and intensifying the impacts of” U.S. sanctions against Iran. In a statement, the FDD said it “conducts independent research and analysis on national security issues” and considers any announcement from Iran's Islamic Republic regime of its inclusion on a blacklist a “badge of honor.”

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is seeking comments on its continuing information collection for its Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations Report on Closure by U.S. Financial Institutions of Correspondent Accounts and Payable-Through Accounts, OFAC said in a notice. OFAC is seeking comments about whether the report is “necessary for the proper performance of the functions” of OFAC, the “accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the collection of information,” ways to “enhance the quality” of the information collection, ways to “minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents and estimated costs “of services to provide information.” Comments are due Nov. 5.

The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control updated a frequently asked question and issued two new FAQs to provide guidance on the “bunkering of non-Iranian and Iranian vessels carrying goods to or from Iran,” OFAC said in a Sept. 5 notice. The FAQs address various scenarios when providing bunkering services to: Iranian ships, non-Iranian ships carrying sanctioned cargo, and non-Iranian ships carrying non-sanctioned cargo to or from Iran.

The United Nations Security Council renewed its Mali sanctions until Aug. 31, 2020, the council said in an Aug. 29 notice. The sanctions place asset freezes on certain Malian entities and people.

The Treasury’s Sept. 3 sanctions against three space-related Iranian entities were aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear development and missile programs, the State Department said. The three sanctioned entities -- the Iran Space Agency, the Iran Space Research Center and the Astronautics Research Institute (see 1909030054) -- are all run by the Iranian government and develop technologies that can be used in Iranian missile systems, the State Department said. Technologies such as space launch vehicles are virtually identical and interchangeable with those used in intercontinental ballistic missiles, and when put to use in the civilian space program allow Iran’s space agencies “to gain experience with various technologies” needed to develop rocket-propelled weapons delivery systems, the U.S. said.

The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation updated its guide of the country’s consolidated list of asset freeze targets, the U.K. said in an Aug. 30 notice. The list also includes “persons subject to restrictive measures in view of Russia's actions” in Ukraine, the U.K. said. The list includes a new search function that will allow users to “quickly and easily” search the targets based on any identifying information, according to a post from Baker McKenzie.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced sanctions on three Iranian entities and made changes to one entry on its Specially Designated Nationals List, according to a Sept. 3 sanctions notice. The action targets Astronautics Research Institute, the Iran Space Agency and the Iran Space Research Center. OFAC also added identifying information for Alfredo Leyva Beltran, a Mexican national listed with the Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker Kingpin (SDNTK) indication. OFAC did not immediately provide more details.

The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control published the Nicaraguan Sanctions Regulations, detailing what transactions are blocked and exempted and listing penalties for violations of the sanctions, OFAC said in a notice. The agency said it plans to release a “more comprehensive” guidance, general licenses and policy statements about the regulations. The sanctions take effect Sept. 4.