More than 170 lawyers and legal scholars urged President Donald Trump to rescind a June executive order that authorizes sanctions against International Criminal Court lawyers and investigators (see 2006110028), saying the sanctions violate American values and undermine the legitimacy of other U.S. sanctions. “U.S. sanctions have long been legitimately imposed on terrorists, international criminals, and gross violations of human rights,” the June letter said. “But targeting ICC lawyers -- and in some cases their families -- punishes the very people who investigate atrocities.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on July 1 issued a reminder to industry to file annual reports on blocked property by Sept. 30. Companies that are “holders of blocked property” must provide OFAC with a list of all blocked property held as of June 30. Property that was unblocked by an OFAC license or was previously blocked by a sanctions program that was terminated before June 30 does not need to be reported, OFAC said. The notice includes a link to the 2020 blocked property report spreadsheet and an updated guidance on filing blocked property reports.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation on June 30 added 11 entries to its Venezuela sanctions list. The sanctions target government officials and prosecutors within President Nicolas Maduro's government.
The United Nations Security Council on June 25 renewed sanctions against the Democratic Republic of the Congo for one year. Among other measures, the sanctions restrict the sale of arms and other “related material and assistance” to nongovernmental entities and individuals in the country. The measures are renewed until July 1, 2021.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., asked the Trump administration to sanction 20 Chinese companies after they were identified last week by the Defense Department as having ties to the Chinese military (see 2006250024). The lawmakers said they hope the administration releases the names of more companies, and called on President Donald Trump to “impose economic penalties.” The lawmakers said the list “is one piece of a broader campaign our nation must wage against the Chinese Communist Party and its parasitic technology transfer efforts.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned nine companies operating in Iran’s metals sector, including five subsidiaries of Iran-based Mobarakeh Steel Company, the agency said June 25. The sanctions target Mobarakeh Steel subsidiary Germany-based Tara Steel Trading GmbH; Mobarakeh majority-owned Iran-based Metil Steel; and Mobarakeh majority-owned Pacific Steel FZE, Better Future General Trading Co LLC and Tuka Metal Trading DMCC, all based in the United Arab Emirates. OFAC also designated Iran-based South Aluminum Company, Sirjan Jahan Steel Complex and Iran Central Iron Ore Company.
More than a dozen Canadian senators asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to sanction Chinese officials for human rights violations against Hong Kong protesters and the country’s Uighur population. In a June 23 letter, the lawmakers said they sent Trudeau a list of Chinese officials who should be designated with Magnitsky Act sanctions and said China has committed “gross” violations of freedoms. “China is continuously showing us that it poses the biggest threat to mankind and a danger to international security,” the senators said. President Donald Trump said he is planning to impose sanctions on China (see 2005290047) but also said he previously held off doing so to avoid damaging the countries’ trade deal (see 2006220023).
Switzerland announced sanctions against Nicaragua on June 24 for human rights violations. The sanctions target six people with ties to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, including two of Ortega’s personal advisers and four “high-ranking” justice system and police force officials, Switzerland’s Federal Council said. The sanctions impose asset freezes and travel bans.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned the captains of five ships used by Iranian shipping lines to deliver Iranian gasoline to Venezuela, OFAC said in a June 24 news release. The ships belong to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and the National Iranian Tanker Company, both of which are sanctioned by OFAC. The sanctions target Ali Danaei Kenarsari, of the Clavel tanker; Mohsen Gohardehi, the Petunia; Alireza Rahnavard, the Fortune; Reza Vaziri, the Forest; and Hamidreza Yahya Zadeh, the Faxon.
The United Kingdom presented its sanctions regulations for Bosnia and Herzegovina and Nicaragua to Parliament June 22, detailing sanctions authorities that will take effect after Brexit. The regulations include designation authorities, sanctions exceptions and licenses, and penalties for violations.