The European Union is finalizing sanctions on people and entities involved in Turkey’s illegal drilling (see 1911120032) in the Eastern Mediterranean, Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative, said Jan. 20, according to an unofficial translation. Borrell did not give a time frame for imposing the sanctions. Borrell also said “there is no news” on the EU’s efforts to impose sanctions on Venezuela (see 2001100014).
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The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementations amended its Iraq sanctions list, according to a Jan. 20 notice. OFSI removed 15 entries from the list, which removed their asset freezes. The removals include state agencies for agriculture, metals, chemicals and electricity.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 13 aircrafts belonging to Petroleos de Venezuela, Venezuela’s state-run and sanctioned energy company, Treasury said in a Jan. 21 press release. The aircrafts have been used for travel for senior members of the Nicolas Maduro regime and have “operated in an unsafe and unprofessional manner in proximity to U.S. military aircraft,” Treasury said.
A New York lobbying firm agreed to pay about $12,000 for violations of the Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said in a Jan. 21 notice. The firm, Park Strategies, LLC, violated U.S. sanctions when it signed a contract and received payments from Al-Barakaat Group of Companies Somalia Limited, which was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by OFAC in 2001. The contract required Park Strategies to provide lobbying services for Al-Barakaat, which were “outside the scope” of authorized activities specified in the Treasury’s general license for legal services.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control renewed two Venezuela-related general licenses, according to a Jan. 17 notice. General License No. 8E, which replaces No. 8D, authorizes certain transactions between Petroleos de Venezuela and Chevron, Haliburton, Schlumberger Limited, Baker Hughes and Weatherford International through 12:01 a.m. on April 22. General License No. 5B, which replaces No. 5A, states that certain transactions relating to the PdVSA “8.5 Percent Bond” are authorized on or after April 22.
The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control does not adequately report on the money it and partner agencies spend related to sanctions against drug traffickers, leading to potentially inaccurate estimates and a lack of transparency when reporting expenditures, the Government Accountability Office said. Although OFAC reports to Congress on the resources and personnel it uses when imposing Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act sanctions, it provides “limited guidance” to partner agencies on how to fulfill those same reporting requirements, the GAO said. Administration officials also said it is sometimes “impossible” to determine whether the sanctions are working.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation added Hizballah to its terrorism and terrorist financing sanctions list, according to a Jan. 17 notice. FSI also amended an entry for “Hizballah Military Wing.”
The State Department announced sanctions against Hassan Shahvarpour, a brigadier general for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran, for human rights violations, the agency announced Jan. 17. Brian Hook, the State Department's special representative for Iran, said during a Jan. 17 press conference that the designation was the result of a tip the agency received from its Rewards for Justice Program (see 1911080020). Hook said Iranians have sent the agency more than 88,000 tips. “We will continue to hold more regime officials responsible for human rights violations,” Hook said. “We call on all nations to join our lead, particularly by sanctioning Iranian officials for human rights violations.”
The State Department issued a list of materials that constitute “raw or semi-finished metals” under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act, according to a notice. The list includes more than 60 types of metals. The IFCA expands the scope of sanctions on Iranian energy and shipping sectors as well as a range of ports.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control clarified that people and companies involved in recently sanctioned Iranian sectors have a 90-day wind-down period, according to a frequently asked question issued Jan. 16. The wind-down period pertains to the sanctions and executive order recently announced by the Trump administration that authorizes new measures against the country’s construction, mining, manufacturing, and textiles sectors (see 2001100050). Entering into new business that would be considered sanctionable under the executive order after Jan. 10 will not be considered wind-down activity, the FAQ says. That activity may be subject to sanctions “even during the wind-down period.” The wind-down period expires April 9.