The Council of the European Union last week sanctioned three people and one entity for undermining democracy and the rule of law in Guatemala. The designations target the Foundation Against Terrorism, its president, Ricardo Rafael Mendez Ruiz Valdes, and its legal representative, Raul Amilcar Falla Ovalle, for their involvement in the persecution and intimidation of the media, lawyers, judges and prosecutors. The council said the newly sanctioned have begun criminal investigations against "justice operators, journalists and representatives of the government, and engaged in the intimidation of civil society and the judiciary."

The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week sanctioned Iraq national Nasr Mohsen Ali Huthele and Kata'ib al-Imam Ali, an Iraqi paramilitary organization, for counterterrorism reasons. The agency didn't release more information by our press time.

The State Department last week criticized a decision by several close U.S. allies to sanction Israeli cabinet members Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank (see 2506100013). The sanctions, imposed by Australia, the U.K., Canada, New Zealand and Norway, don't "advance U.S.-led efforts to achieve a ceasefire, bring all hostages home, and end the war" between Israel and Hamas, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

The U.N. Security Council this week removed Hajjaj Bin Fahd Al Ajmi from its ISIL (Da’esh) and al-Qaida sanctions list. Ajmi was sanctioned for his ties to terrorism. The council didn't release more information.

Australia, the U.K., Canada, New Zealand and Norway this week sanctioned Israeli nationals Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, the countries said in a joint statement. The two individuals are involved in "advocating the forced displacement of Palestinians and the creation of new Israeli settlements" in the territory, the nations said.

The EU this week proposed another round of sanctions against Russia, including lowering the global price cap on Russian oil from $60 to $45 per barrel. The bloc also wants to sanction more vessels transporting Russian oil, designate Chinese companies sending dual-use goods to Russia, and introduce more financial restrictions.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned various people and sham charities located abroad for being "prominent financial supporters" of the military and terrorist activities of Hamas. The people and charities help to fund the Hamas military wing "under the pretense of conducting humanitarian work," including aid work in Gaza, OFAC said.

The U.S. this week sanctioned Los Chapitos, part of the Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel, which controls laboratories that insert fentanyl in counterfeit pills that are later trafficked to the U.S. The Office of Foreign Assets Control also sanctioned two fugitive leaders of Los Chapitos and a regional network of Los Chapitos associates and businesses based in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. OFAC said they’re involved in drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, and money laundering.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week sanctioned more than 40 people and entities tied to Iranian brothers Mansour, Nasser and Fazlolah Zarringhalam, who have laundered billions of dollars’ worth of funds through the international financial system for Iran's “shadow banking” network, the Treasury Department said. The designations target front companies in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong along with "affiliated businessmen" and others who have ties to sales of Iranian energy.

Countries should “redouble” efforts to prevent sanctions violations involving North Korea, including “through enhanced screening and more stringent export control measures,” the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team said in a recent report. The MSMT, the group formed last year by the U.S. and 10 of its close allies to report on North Korea-related sanctions evasion (see 2502210005), also called for scrutiny of cargo ships that may be transferring petroleum to or on behalf of North Korea, adding that member states should share lists of any vessels suspected of delivering oil to North Korea. The 30-page report also includes details about arms transfers between North Korea and Russia.