A bipartisan group of five senators, including Senate Foreign Relations Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., reintroduced a bill May 21 that would mandate sanctions against Haitian criminal gangs and the political and economic elites who support them.
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., reintroduced a bill May 22 that would repeal the 2026 sunset provision of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996, which calls for sanctioning Iran’s weapons programs and support for terrorism. The proposed Solidify Iran Sanctions Act, which was referred to the Banking Committee, passed the House in early May (see 2505060054).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control released another video May 23 in its ongoing effort to provide guidance on U.S. sanctions programs and rules. The latest episode provides an overview of how to contact the OFAC Compliance Hotline to submit questions about U.S. sanctions compliance and OFAC resources. The agency's other videos offer a tutorial on using its sanctions list search tool (see 2401190016), an introduction to U.S. sanctions programs (see 2307280070), and an introduction to blocking and non-blocking sanctions (see 2308280047).
The State Department last week notified Congress that the Sudanese government used chemical weapons in 2024 and isn't in compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention. As a result, the U.S. plans to impose new sanctions against Sudan, including restrictions on U.S. exports to Sudan and on access to U.S. government lines of credit, following a 15-day Congressional notification period. The sanctions will take effect on the date of publication of a notice in the Federal Register, which is expected around June 6.
The U.K. should change its foreign investment screening process to better support British technology firms and shouldn't hurry to agree to increased U.S. restrictions against China, the U.K. Parliament was told last week.
The Treasury Department issued a new general license last week that it said gives “immediate” sanctions relief to Syria, “effectively lifting sanctions” on the country in the aftermath of last year’s fall of the Bashar Assad regime.
A bill that would sanction Russia and its supporters if Moscow rejects peace talks with Ukraine had gained the support of about 80 senators, or four-fifths of the Senate, as of May 22.
The U.K. this week renewed its Russia sanctions license that authorizes certain payments to charities linked to sanctioned parties. The license authorizes transactions by interim managers or trustees appointed by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Under the license, which now runs through May 30, 2028, interim managers or trustees may authorize payments for the basic needs of the charity, to disperse charitable funds and to "wind up" the charity. The license was scheduled to expire May 30.
The EU issued a new set of sanctions this week for people and entities with ties to chemical weapons, human rights abuses and Russian "hybrid threats." The additions were announced concurrently with the bloc's 17th sanctions package on Russia (see 2505200057).
The Trump administration has assembled a team to implement President Donald Trump’s recent order to remove sanctions on Syria, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said May 22.