A new final rule released last week by the Office of Foreign Assets Control will clarify the agency’s process for issuing certain blocked property orders or orders that impose “less than full blocking” restrictions. The rule, effective Sept. 17, describes the three types of actions OFAC may take with respect to property or interests in property, the “forms of notice” that OFAC may use, and how parties affected by blocked property orders can contact the agency with “inquiries.” The agency said those affected by sanctions “should have an opportunity to understand the nature of OFAC’s action and its impact on their property or interests in property.” The rule also makes other minor revisions and clarifications to its sanctions regulations.
The EU last week said it will impose new sanctions in response to a recent transfer of Iranian missiles to Russia, saying the transfer was a “direct threat to European security” and is a “substantive material escalation from” previous shipments of Iranian drones and ammunition to Russia since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Biden administration is “developing additional potential sanctions” that it could impose on leaders of Sudan’s two warring parties if they continue to resist participating in peace talks, a State Department official said Sept. 11.
The Treasury Department this week sanctioned 16 Venezuelan officials that it said have ties to the Nicolas Maduro regime and who obstructed the country’s recent presidential elections (see 2407290044). The designated officials include leaders of the Maduro-aligned National Electoral Council and the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, which Treasury said “impeded a transparent electoral process and the release of accurate election results,” along with military, intelligence and government officials “responsible for intensifying repression through intimidation, indiscriminate detentions, and censorship.” The Biden administration will “continue to use our tools to hold Maduro and his cronies accountable and support the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people,” Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Cambodian businessman Ly Yong Phat, his company L.Y.P. Group Co., LTD, and the O‑Smach Resort for their ties to serious human rights abuses, including forced labor. The agency also designated Cambodia-based Garden City Hotel, Koh Kong Resort and Phnom Penh Hotel for being owned or controlled by Ly.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week issued new guidance about the exclusions available under Russia-related information technology and software services restrictions that took effect Sept. 12.
The Council of the European Union on Sept. 12 extended until March 15 sanctions on those responsible for undermining the sovereignty of Ukraine. The restrictions currently cover over 2,200 people and entities. As part of the six-month extension, the council removed two people from the sanctions regime and dropped five deceased people from the list.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is seeking public comments on information collections involving its Reporting, Procedures and Penalties Regulations; the Cuban Assets Control Regulations; the Iran Financial Sanctions Regulations; and the Hizballah Financial Sanctions Regulations, it said in a notice released Sept. 11. Comments are due Nov. 12.
The Treasury Department this week sanctioned 10 people and six entities in Iran and Russia involved in trading Iranian weapons and drones, along with four vessels delivering those shipments. The State Department also designated various shipping companies and vessels, including Iran Air, which the agency said is being used to move Western-origin goods to Russia.
The U.S. this week sanctioned three people, five companies and two vessels involved in smuggling oil and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) for Hezbollah, and it updated a sanctions advisory for the maritime energy shipping industry to highlight risks from shipments to Syria.