The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control renewed two Venezuela-related general licenses, according to a Jan. 17 notice. General License No. 8E, which replaces No. 8D, authorizes certain transactions between Petroleos de Venezuela and Chevron, Haliburton, Schlumberger Limited, Baker Hughes and Weatherford International through 12:01 a.m. on April 22. General License No. 5B, which replaces No. 5A, states that certain transactions relating to the PdVSA “8.5 Percent Bond” are authorized on or after April 22.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementations amended its Iraq sanctions list, according to a Jan. 20 notice. OFSI removed 15 entries from the list, which removed their asset freezes. The removals include state agencies for agriculture, metals, chemicals and electricity.
The European Union is finalizing sanctions on people and entities involved in Turkey’s illegal drilling (see 1911120032) in the Eastern Mediterranean, Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative, said Jan. 20, according to an unofficial translation. Borrell did not give a time frame for imposing the sanctions. Borrell also said “there is no news” on the EU’s efforts to impose sanctions on Venezuela (see 2001100014).
The State Department issued a list of materials that constitute “raw or semi-finished metals” under the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act, according to a notice. The list includes more than 60 types of metals. The IFCA expands the scope of sanctions on Iranian energy and shipping sectors as well as a range of ports.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation added Hizballah to its terrorism and terrorist financing sanctions list, according to a Jan. 17 notice. FSI also amended an entry for “Hizballah Military Wing.”
The State Department announced sanctions against Hassan Shahvarpour, a brigadier general for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran, for human rights violations, the agency announced Jan. 17. Brian Hook, the State Department's special representative for Iran, said during a Jan. 17 press conference that the designation was the result of a tip the agency received from its Rewards for Justice Program (see 1911080020). Hook said Iranians have sent the agency more than 88,000 tips. “We will continue to hold more regime officials responsible for human rights violations,” Hook said. “We call on all nations to join our lead, particularly by sanctioning Iranian officials for human rights violations.”
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control clarified that people and companies involved in recently sanctioned Iranian sectors have a 90-day wind-down period, according to a frequently asked question issued Jan. 16. The wind-down period pertains to the sanctions and executive order recently announced by the Trump administration that authorizes new measures against the country’s construction, mining, manufacturing, and textiles sectors (see 2001100050). Entering into new business that would be considered sanctionable under the executive order after Jan. 10 will not be considered wind-down activity, the FAQ says. That activity may be subject to sanctions “even during the wind-down period.” The wind-down period expires April 9.
The State Department sanctioned Moldovan official and oligarch Vladimir Plahotniuc for corruption, the State Department said Jan. 13. The agency also sanctioned Plahotniuc’s family members, including his wife, Oxana Childescu, son, Timofei Plahotniuc, and his minor child.
The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementations introduced a sanctions regime on Belarus for human rights violations and to “encourage” the government to “respect democratic principles and institutions,” the OFSI said in a Jan. 15 notice. The U.K. also released an explanatory memorandum about the sanctions and guidance, and will eventually release a list of people sanctioned under the regulations. The measures include assets freezes, trade prohibitions and criminal penalties for violations of the sanctions, including fines and prison sentences. License exceptions are available for “certain circumstances,” including “acts done for the purpose of national security,” “prior obligations,” “extraordinary situations” and more.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned two North Korean entities involved in illegal exploitation of North Korea labor to generate money overseas, Treasury said in a Jan. 14 press release. Treasury said the two North Korean companies -- North Korea-based Namgang Trading Corporation (NTC) and China-based Beijing Sukbakso -- evade United Nations Security Council resolutions by sending North Korean laborers abroad. All UN member states were required to expel North Korean laborers in December, the press release said. NTC “maintained” laborers in “multiple” countries, including Russia, Nigeria and throughout the Middle East. Sukbakso, a lodging facility, handles portions of the travel and logistics for NTC personnel working overseas, Treasury said.