The State Department designated two Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officials for human rights violations, it said in a March 9 notice. The designations target IRGC interrogators Ali Hemmatian and Masoud Safdari for torturing political prisoners. The designation also applies to their immediate family members.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the adult children of the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar military and their six companies, the agency said March 10. The designations target Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet Mon, who have “directly benefitted from their father’s position and malign influence.” OFAC also sanctioned the companies A&M Mahar Company Limited, Sky One Construction Company Limited, The Yangon Restaurant, The Yangon Gallery, Everfit Company Limited and Seventh Sense Company Limited.
The U.S. revoked a Treasury Department license issued in January to mining magnate Dan Gertler and reimposed sanctions on the Israeli businessman, the State Department said March 8. The license had been issued to Gertler during the last days of the Trump administration, effectively exempting Gertler from certain U.S. sanctions. The State Department said the license is “inconsistent with America’s strong foreign policy interests in combatting corruption around the world,” adding that Gertler has “engaged in extensive public corruption” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The U.S. plans to review its sanctions regime against Venezuela after determining that unilateral measures over the last four years haven’t been effective and haven’t driven Nicolas Maduro from power, a senior administration official told reporters on a March 8 call. The official said the U.S. is hoping to garner more multilateral support for an international approach to Venezuela but added that it is in “no rush to lift sanctions.” The comments come amid a Treasury Department review of all U.S. sanctions regimes (see 2102230047).
The United Nations Security Council removed one former Sudanese military official from its sanctions list because he died, the UNSC said March 5. The council delisted Adam Shareif, who was sanctioned as the commander of the Sudanese Liberation Army.
The State Department designated former Ukrainian public official Ihor Kolomoyskyy for “significant” corruption,” the agency said March 5. Kolomoyskyy “undermined” the Ukrainian public’s “faith in their government’s democratic institutions” and used his government position for “personal benefit.” The State Department also designated Kolomoyskyy’s immediate family members, including his wife, Iryna Kolomoyska; his daughter, Angelika Kolomoyska; and his son, Israel Zvi Kolomoyskyy.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on March 5 updated an Iran-related entry on its Specially Designated Nationals List. The agency updated the entry for Hasan Mortezavi, who was sanctioned in 2010 for involvement with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps-Qods Force. OFAC didn’t release more information, and the Treasury Department didn’t comment.
The U.S. extended national emergencies authorizing sanctions against Zimbabwe, Venezuela and “with respect to” Russia's activity in Ukraine, the White House said March 3. The White House said Zimbabwe's president “hasn’t made the necessary political and economic reforms” that would warrant rescinding U.S. sanctions. It also said the situations in Ukraine and Venezuela “continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to” U.S. national security.
The United Nations special envoy for Myanmar urged members to “take very strong measures” against Myanmar to counter the violence overtaking the country after last month’s military coup, a U.N. news release said March 3. Christine Schraner Burgener said she warned Myanmar’s military that “strong” sanctions will likely be imposed, but the military told her “we are used to sanctions and we survived the sanctions time in the past.” The U.S. and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on the country (see 2102110020 and 2102260013). The European Union is preparing sanctions (see 2102100012).
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned Mexican national Juan Manuel Abouzaid El Bayeh for helping to move drug shipments and launder money for the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, a March 3 news release said. The agency labeled Abouzaid El Bayeh a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker. The designation was OFAC’s 12th action against the cartel, which was sanctioned in 2015.