The U.S. sanctioned more than 20 people and companies this week for helping to finance Iranian military groups, including by helping the Iranian government sell oil and other commodities to overseas buyers. The Office of Foreign Assets Control said these sales help Iran generate billions of dollars for its Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, its Iranian Armed Forces General Staff and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force.
A senior sanctions official with the Treasury Department is in Oman and Turkey this week to discuss sanctions against Hamas and Russia, the agency announced Nov. 27. Brian Nelson, Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, is speaking with the countries about ways they can help prevent Hamas and other terrorist groups from raising and moving funds, facilitate humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and prevent and investigate trade that benefits Russia. Nelson’s trip comes after the multiple rounds of U.S. sanctions against Hamas and its financiers since the group’s terror attacks against Israel in October (see 2311140008, 2310270012 and 2310180003).
The U.K.’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation this week amended an existing entry under its Iran sanctions regime. The move updated identifying information for Ya Mahdi Industries Group, which was designated for its involvement in Iran’s nuclear weapons program.
The State Department recently added two people and one entity as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. One designation applies to Akram al-Ajouri, the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The agency also designated Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, an Iraqi Shia militia, and Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji, the militia’s leader.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published four previously issued general licenses under its Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations. The full text of each license is available in the notice.
The State Department this week announced another package of weapons and equipment for Ukraine, including up to $100 million of arms previously authorized under directed drawdowns. The package includes missiles for air defense, ammunition, anti-tank weapons, spare parts, services, training, transportation and more.
President Joe Biden renewed a national emergency authorizing certain sanctions related to Nicaragua, the White House said last week. The situation in Nicaragua, including the "systematic dismantling and undermining of democratic institutions" as well as "indiscriminate violence" and corruption, continues to threaten U.S. national security, Biden said. The emergency for Nicaragua was renewed for one year from Nov. 27.
The U.S. this week sanctioned seven people and one entity affiliated with Iranian-aligned militia groups. The designations, announced by the Treasury and State departments, target several people connected to Iraq-based Kata’ib Hizballah and newly sanctioned Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, two militia groups that receive funding and support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force. Designated were Imad Naji al-Bahadli, Habib Hasan Mughamis Darraji, Ja’afar al-Husayni, Khalid Kadhim Jasim al-Skeni, Basim Mohammad Hasab al-Majidi, Mojtaba Jahandust and Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji.
The American and British agencies in charge of sanctions implementation have “worked more closely than ever” during the last year and are planning to share more data, issue additional guidance and better harmonize their sanctions measures, they said last week. They also announced a plan to embed an official within the other country’s agency to help train and learn about each side's respective sanctions procedures.
The U.N. Security Council and the U.K. this week amended various entries under their ISIL (Da’esh) and al-Qaida sanctions regimes. The changes revise identifying information for people and one company that have ties to terrorism.