U.S. Mulls Lifting Some Iran Sanctions to Mitigate Oil-Price Surge
The United States may remove sanctions in the coming days on about 140 million barrels of Iranian oil stranded aboard tankers at sea, according to The Guardian, which cited recent comments by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
U.S. Blacklists Network Accused of Diverting Over $100 Million to Hezbollah
The U.S. Treasury Department said on Friday it had imposed sanctions on an international network of 16 people and companies that allegedly diverted more than $100 million to Hezbollah since 2020.
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Belarusian Fertilizer Companies and Bank
The United States has lifted sanctions on three Belarusian fertilizer companies and the country’s state investment bank in exchange for Belarus freeing 250 political prisoners, a move made as the war in Iran continues to drive fertilizer prices higher.
Russia’s Shadow-Fleet Broker is Banking on Sanctions Lift and Oil Demand
A trader identified by The Wall Street Journal as a central figure in Russia’s shadow fleet has revived his oil business after the Iran war disrupted supplies from the Persian Gulf and boosted demand for Russian crude that had been stranded at sea.
Companies House Dissolves IRGC-Linked Crypto Firm that Cited Fake Owner
Companies House has removed cryptocurrency exchange Zedxion Exchange Ltd. from the UK’s register of businesses after an investigative report by OCCRP found the firm used a fictitious director and misleading incorporation filings to conceal links to sanctioned Iranian tycoon Babak Zanjani.
U.S. Lifts Major Restrictions on Venezuela’s PDVSA
The United States on Wednesday issued a general license broadly authorizing U.S. companies to do business with Venezuela’s state-run oil company PDVSA, a move that could unlock new investment and eventually increase the country’s crude production capacity.
Blacklisted by OFSI, Iran Banker Lives in Spanish Villa Bought with UK Firm
An Iranian banker sanctioned by Britain for allegedly helping finance the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) owns a luxury villa in Marbella through the Spanish subsidiary of a UK company.
FL Brokerage to Pay $1.1mn for Failing to ID Human Error in Sanctions Controls
TradeStation Securities agreed to pay $1.11 million to settle potential civil liability for 481 apparent violations of U.S. sanctions rules after the Florida-based brokerage provided services to people in Iran, Syria, and Crimea.
Prominent UK Polo Patrons Tied to Alleged Illicit Funds at Shuttered Swiss Bank
U.S. officials have linked two prominent figures in English polo to an alleged scheme to launder proceeds from the illicit sale of Venezuelan oil, according to a Financial Times report that cited a recent Treasury Department notice about the now-defunct Swiss lender MBaer Merchant Bank.
For Iran, Oil Sales Continue Despite Sanctions and War
Illicit Iranian oil shipments continue to move through Asian waters toward China, generating a critical revenue stream for Tehran and helping Beijing build large crude stockpiles despite sanctions and heightened regional conflict.