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OFAC sanctions Iranian tech company and employees
On June 2, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 13846, against an Iran-based technology company, two senior employees, and an affiliate based in the UAE. According to OFAC, the sanctioned persons and entities partook in facilitating the Iranian regime’s censorship of the internet in Iran. The technology company is a key partner in Iran’s development of the National Information Network, which, OFAC states is, “a countrywide intranet that is being used to disconnect the Iranian people from the global internet.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned individuals and entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons. Additionally, OFAC warned that “persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action.” Also, OFAC noted that unless an exception applies, any foreign financial institution that knowingly takes part in a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the persons designated could also be subject to U.S. sanctions.
In conjunction with the sanctions, OFAC issued several Iran-related general licenses (see General License P).
OFAC sanctions entities in China and Mexico tied to illicit drugs
On May 30, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 14059, against 17 individuals and entities for their involvement in the rapid increase of equipment used to make illicit drugs. OFAC detailed the impact of the drugs the equipment produces and explained that the counterfeit pills are often laced with fentanyl and ultimately end up in U.S. markets. Targeting every stage of the pill production process, OFAC designated seven entities and six individuals based in China and three individuals based in Mexico for perpetuating the trafficking of illicit drugs through the sale, manufacturing, and/or shipment of pill press equipment.
As a result of these sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons unless authorized by a general or specific license or exempt. Further, financial institutions and persons that engage in certain transactions with the designated persons may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to enforcement.
OFAC sanctions Russian paramilitary leader in Mali
Recently, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 14024, against a Mali-based principal administrator and head of a Russian private military company’s paramilitary units. Aside from acting as a key player in Russia’s war against Ukraine, the private military company “has meddled in and destabilized countries in Africa, committing widespread human rights abuses and appropriating natural resources,” OFAC said, noting that the sanctioned individual worked with the Malian government to support incoming paramilitary forces to Mali, including preparing living quarters and arranging meetings with officials from several African nations. The action follows previous sanctions issued against those working with or supporting the private military company’s destabilizing activities, involving human rights abuses, and appropriating natural resources.
As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, unless authorized by a general or specific OFAC license, or otherwise exempt.
OFAC sanctions cut cash flow supporting violence in Sudan
On June 1, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 14098, against four companies for generating revenue from, and contributing to, the conflict in Sudan. Two of the companies are affiliated with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and two companies are affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces. OFAC stated that sanctions against those who have “directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Sudan” will hinder the financial support for the entities waging war in Sudan.
As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, unless authorized by a general or specific OFAC license, or otherwise exempt.
In conjunction with the sanctions, OFAC issued several Sudan-related general licenses (see General Licenses 1, 2, 3 and 4).
OFAC sanctions target IRGC
On June 1, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated members and affiliates of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its external operations arm, the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), pursuant to Executive Order 13224, for participating in a series of plots against former U.S. officials, dual U.S. and Iranian nationals, and Iranian dissidents.
The following were specifically designated: (i) two operatives designated “for having acted for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the IRGC-QF”; (ii) an IRGC-QF official designated “for acting or on behalf of the IRGC-QF”; and (iii) a dual Iranian and Turkish national designated “for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF” by using his Turkey-based airline to support the IRGC-QF covert operations. (The airline is separately designated.)
As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the individuals and entities named above, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, must be blocked and reported to OFAC. OFAC’s announcement further noted that its regulations “generally prohibit” U.S. persons from participating in transactions with designated persons unless exempt or otherwise authorized by a general or specific license. The prohibitions include the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods, or services to or for the benefit of those persons.
OFAC issues new general licenses related to Russia and Venezuela sanctions
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently released two general licenses relating to Russia and Venezuela. Newly issued Russia-related General License (GL) 69 authorizes certain debt securities servicing transactions issued by an identified bank that would otherwise be prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 14024. Interest or principal payments on the authorized transactions cannot be made to persons located in the Russian Federation, and any payments made to a blocked person must be done in accordance with the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations regardless of where the person is located.
Additionally, OFAC also issued GL 8L, which authorizes transactions involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) that are deemed necessary for the wind down of operations in Venezuela for certain entities. While authorizing some transactions, GL 8L also includes a comprehensive list of transactions that are not authorized, including “[a]ny loans to, accrual of additional debt by, or subsidization of PdVSA, or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, including in kind, prohibited by E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, as amended by E.O. 13857, and incorporated into the [Venezuela Sanctions Regulations].”
OFAC issues new general licenses related to Russia and Venezuela sanctions
The U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently released two general licenses relating to Russia and Venezuela. Newly issued Russia-related General License (GL) 69 authorizes certain debt securities servicing transactions issued by an identified bank that would otherwise be prohibited by Executive Order (E.O.) 14024. Interest or principal payments on the authorized transactions cannot be made to persons located in the Russian Federation, and any payments made to a blocked person must be done in accordance with the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations regardless of where the person is located.
Additionally, OFAC also issued GL 8L, which authorizes transactions involving Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA) that are deemed necessary for the wind down of operations in Venezuela for certain entities. While authorizing some transactions, GL 8L also includes a comprehensive list of transactions that are not authorized, including “[a]ny loans to, accrual of additional debt by, or subsidization of PdVSA, or any entity in which PdVSA owns, directly or indirectly, a 50 percent or greater interest, including in kind, prohibited by E.O. 13808 of August 24, 2017, as amended by E.O. 13857, and incorporated into the [Venezuela Sanctions Regulations].”
OFAC sanctions Syrian financial facilitators allied with IRGC-QF
On May 30, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 13582 and the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act of 2019 (Caesar Act), against two Syrian money service businesses and the three owners and operators of Al-Fadel Exchange, which have secretly helped the Syrian regime under Bashar al-Assad and its Hizballah and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) allies maintain access to the international financial system in violation of international sanctions. Both E.O. 13582 and the Caesar Act underscore the gravity of enabling violent regimes to circumvent sanctions. These sanctions come on the heels of OFAC’s March 28 designation, also pursuant of the Caesar Act, of individuals involved in Syria’s drug production and trafficking (previously covered by InfoBytes here). As a result of these sanctions, “all property and interests in property of these persons which are in or come within the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons. Additionally, “persons that engage in certain transactions with the persons designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action.”
OFAC sanctions terror operatives and charcoal smugglers in Somalia
On May 24, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13536 and E.O. 13244, against 26 individuals and entities connected with terrorist group al-Shabaab. According to OFAC, the 15 financial facilitators and operatives, four charcoal smugglers, and seven of their associated companies are designated for financial facilitation, business activities, collection of funds on behalf of the terrorist group, proliferation of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and illegal charcoal smuggling from Somalia, all of which have exacerbated local conflicts and suffering. The 15 designated individuals have generated hundreds of thousands of dollars through illegal fee collections from local Somalis, to support al-Shabaab operations and weapons procurement in southern Somalia. Regarding the four charcoal smugglers, after 2012, Somali charcoal exports and imports were banned pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2036 due to its role in fueling instability in Somalia and funding criminal and terrorist organizations.
As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. OFAC further mentioned, “any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the individuals or entities designated today could be subject to U.S. correspondent or payable-through account sanctions.” Lastly, OFAC stressed that engaging in certain transactions with several the individuals and entities designated entails “risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to E.O. 13224, as amended. Pursuant to this authority, OFAC can prohibit or impose strict conditions on the opening or maintaining in the United States of a correspondent account or a payable-through account of a foreign financial institution that knowingly conducted or facilitated any significant transaction on behalf of a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”
OFAC sanctions DPRK cyber and IT workers
On May 23, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13687 and E.O. 13810, against four entities and one individual, involved in obscure revenue generation and malicious cyber activities supporting the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) government. Through continued coordination with the Republic of Korea (ROK), one individual and one of the entities are concurrently being sanctioned by the ROK, while the other three entities OFAC designated were previously sanctioned by the ROK earlier in February. According to OFAC, the malicious cyber action and illicit IT worker revenue generation supports the DPRK’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the United States, or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. OFAC further mentioned, “any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the individuals or entities designated today could be subject to U.S. correspondent or payable-through account sanctions.”