The U.S. this week sanctioned people and companies involved in a sanctions evasion network for the terror group Hezbollah and others that help produce and transport Captagon, an addictive amphetamine, to help fund the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria.

The Council of the European Union on Oct. 14 renewed its chemical weapons sanctions regime for another year, extending the sanctions until Oct. 16, 2025. The restrictions currently cover 25 people and three entities.

The U.K. on Oct. 15 added nine entries to its Iran sanctions regime and seven entries to its global human rights sanctions regime.

The Council of the European Union on Oct. 14 added five people and one entity to its Moldova sanctions regime for actions related to Russian attempts to destabilize the country. The sanctions include the governor of the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia, Evghenia Gutul, as well as other officials in the territorial unit. The council also listed Evrazia, a Russia-based group "whose goal is to promote Russia's interests abroad," along with its director and founder Nelli Parutenco.

The Council of the European Union on Oct. 14 added seven people and seven entities to its Iran sanctions list as a response to Iran's recent transfer of missiles and drones to Russia (see 2409160005). The additions include three Iranian airlines and two procurement companies that transfer and supply the drones and missiles through "transnational procurement networks" to be used in the war in Ukraine. Two propellant manufacturers were also sanctioned. The individuals include the deputy defense minister of Iran, various Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps officials and the managing directors of Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries and Aerospace Industries Organization.

The U.S. and Canada this week designated the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network, known as Samidoun, for being a “sham charity” that operates as an international fundraiser for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist organization.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control declined to renew two Russia-related licenses that had authorized certain transactions related to Russia’s Moscow Exchange, National Clearing Center and National Settlement Depository (see 2406120036), warning in guidance last week that it planned to let the licenses expire 12:01 a.m. EDT Oct. 12.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is asking users of its website to fill out a survey that will give OFAC feedback on how it can streamline the site’s navigation and ensure users can get "the most current and relevant" sanctions data. The survey will also help in "informing the development of innovative applications and resources."

The U.S. last week expanded an Iran-related sanctions authority to target the country’s petroleum and petrochemical sectors and designated a host of entities and vessels that it said have shipped or traded Iranian oil products.

Western policymakers should sharpen their approach to economic sanctions to avoid the kinds of mistakes that have limited the impact of such measures against Russia, according to a recent paper released by the Brookings Institution.