The U.S. this week announced sanctions on entities, ships and one person that are involved in the construction of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline or that are linked to the project. Each was previously sanctioned under the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act, but the State Department said it’s redesignating them under a 2021 Russia-related executive order.

A new general license issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control this week authorizes transactions with Russia’s Gazprombank if those payments involve certain civil nuclear energy projects.

The U.S. sanctioned two companies and two people that it said are developing and procuring sensitive navigational system parts for the Iranian military, including divisions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Canada this week sanctioned five current or former senior officials of the Venezuelan government for undermining democracy in the country, including by “fraudulently” declaring Nicolas Maduro the victor of Venezuela’s recent presidential elections (see 2407290044 and 2310180070). The designations target Caryslia Beatriz Rodriguez Rodriguez, president of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice; Juan Carlos Hidalgo Pandares, judge of the Supreme Tribunal of Justice; Rosalba Gil Pacheco, member of the National Electoral Council; Edward Miguel Briceno Cisneros, a Venezuelan judge; and Luis Ernesto Duenez Reyes, a Venezuelan prosecutor.

The U.K. added two entities to its Russia sanctions regime on Dec. 17, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation announced. OFSI added United Arab Emirates-based 2Rivers DMCC and Singapore-based 2Rivers PTE LTD for their ties to the Russian energy sector.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is updating its general licenses that authorize certain payments for legal services from funds originating outside the U.S., it announced in a final rule effective Dec. 19. The rule is applicable March 12.

The U.S. sanctioned two people and one entity that it said are involved in a network helping to launder millions of dollars in illegal proceeds for the North Korean government. The designations target United Arab Emirates-based Lu Huaying and Zhang Jian, who have worked through a UAE-based front company to “facilitate money laundering and cryptocurrency conversion services” that move money to North Korea. OFAC also sanctioned UAE-based Green Alpine Trading, LLC, a front company that is a “key component of this money-laundering network.”

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 12 people and eight entities this week for their involvement in illegal drug trade, including people in Europe, the Asia Pacific and Latin America.

The EU on Dec. 16 announced its 15th sanctions package against Russia, designating nearly 100 new people and entities and taking other measures designed to prevent circumvention of EU sanctions.

The Council of the European Union renewed its sanctions regime on Guatemala until Jan. 13, 2026. The regime currently lists five people.