Two Iranian nationals were charged with violating U.S. export controls and sanctions after they tried to help Iranian entities buy a petroleum tanker, the Justice Department said May 1. Amir Dianat and Kamran Lajmiri allegedly concealed details about the transaction from the seller, financial institutions and the U.S. government, the agency said, and failed to disclose that the tanker was destined for Iran. Both were charged with violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations. The U.S. also filed a civil forfeiture action against Dainat for about $12.3 million, saying the funds were used in a money-laundering scheme to buy the tanker. The scheme involved the National Iranian Oil Company, the National Iranian Tanker Company and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force, all on the Specially Designated Nationals list. The tanker was valued at more than $10 million, Justice said.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation issued a correction for 137 listings under its Afghanistan sanctions regime, according to an April 30 notice. Of the listings, 136 remain subject to an asset freeze, OFSI said. The agency removed one entry from the list: Ahmadullah.
Sudan is being severely hampered by unilateral sanctions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations said April 28. The country is facing “acute resource constraints” because of its position on the U.S.’s list of state-sponsored terrorism, which is leading to a humanitarian crisis, said Michelle Bachelet, UN commissioner for human rights. “The only way Sudan will ever be able to break out of this cycle of poverty and desperation is to be freed from the impediments of sanctions,” Bachelet said.
The U.S. renewed a waiver that authorizes Iraqi imports of Iranian gas and electricity, according to an April 26 Reuters report. The waiver was authorized for a “shorter period” than previous authorizations, the report said, and the State Department will reassess whether to renew the waiver after it expires May 26.
The United Kingdom amended a sanctions entry for Martin Koumtamadji, according to an April 29 notice from the U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation. Koumtamadji, the leader of an anti-government militia in the Central African Republic (see 2004220011), is still subject to an asset freeze.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended a Burma-related sanctions listing, according to an April 27 notice. OFSI updated the listing for Than Oo, who is still subject to an asset freeze. In a related action, the European Union renewed sanctions against Burma for one year until April 30, 2021, according to an April 24 notice.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control renewed a general license that authorizes transactions between certain companies and Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A., OFAC said April 21. General License No. 8F, which replaces No. 8E, authorizes transactions between PdVSA and Chevron Corp., Haliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes and Weatherford International, with certain restrictions, through 12:01 a.m. Dec. 1, 2020. The license was scheduled to expire April 22.
The United Nations Security Council and the United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation sanctioned the leader of an anti-government militia in the Central African Republic, according to notices published this week. Martin Koumtamadji, president and commander-in-chief of the Front Démocratique du Peuple Centrafricain, is now subject to an asset freeze.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control removed sanctions from 12 narcotics-related entries on its Specially Designated Nationals List, according to an April 22 notice. The entries include people and entities based in Guatemala, Colombia, Honduras, the British Virgin Islands and Florida. OFAC also amended six entries under its Libya designations to include more identifying information.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation issued a correction for four listings in its ISIL (Da’esh) and al-Qaida sanctions regime, OFSI said in an April 21 notice. The correction removes the following names from the consolidated list and the asset freezes for them: Amran Mansor, Abderrahmane Kifane, Son Hadi bin Muhadjir and Abdul Rahim Al-Talhi, the notice said.