The European Council on May 14 broadened the scope of its sanctions framework on Iran due to that nation's support for Russia's war in Ukraine. The council expanded the bloc's ability to impose sanctions on not only unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) but "missiles too." The EU can now target individuals and entities "supplying, selling or otherwise being involved in transferring Iran's missiles and UAVs" in support of the war in Ukraine or used by armed groups that undermine security in the Middle East and Red Sea region. The council also barred the export of components used in the "development and production of UAVs from the EU to Iran."
A bipartisan group of 11 senators issued a joint statement May 14 criticizing the Georgian parliament’s passage of a "Russian-style foreign agents bill" and reiterating their warning that Congress may respond with sanctions and other measures.
The Bureau of Industry and Security should add several Chinese firms to its Entity List for helping China’s military and human rights violations, House Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar, R-Mich., said May 13.
Flywire, a U.S.-headquartered global payments company, may have violated U.S. sanctions against Cuba, Iran or Syria, it told the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week designated Russian national Dmitrii Aleksandrovich Beloglazovand and three of his companies for their involvement in a scheme to help Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska evade U.S. sanctions. OFAC said the scheme was meant to unfreeze more than $1.5 billion worth of shares belonging to Deripaska.
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Australian export compliance officers are wary about a new proposed International Traffic in Arms Regulation exemption for defense trade with the U.S., which is causing some compliance confusion and could lead to a host of “operational challenges” for companies subject to trade regulations, said Eva Galfi, a consultant for International Trade Advisors in Australia. She said the new exemption, along with a similar rule by the Commerce Department to reduce certain license requirements for exports to Australia and the U.K., may also increase the risk of large fines for violations.
Sanctions and export control attorney Keil Ritterpusch has joined Buchanan Ingeroll as a shareholder in the international trade and national security practice group, the firm announced May 13. Ritterpusch has worked across the defense, aerospace and software sectors and has helped clients put in place compliance programs involving the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Export Administration Regulations, Foreign Trade Regulations, Office of Foreign Assets Control regulations and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act requirements.
The U.K. High Court of Justice on May 10 made permanent a court order blocking sanctioned Russian entity VEB from taking a dispute with Barclays Bank to an arbitration court in Russia. The court rejected VEB's claim that British sanctions "frustrated" an arbitration agreement between the parties.
Leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said May 13 they might pursue financial sanctions and other measures against Georgia if the country’s government doesn't withdraw a “foreign agents” bill that would crack down on civil society organizations and independent media outlets.