sanctions

US and UK Unveil Widespread Sanctions Against Russia's Energy Sector

The United States and Britain on Friday announced sanctions against Russia's energy sector, including oil giant Gazprom Neft, just days before outgoing President Joe Biden leaves office. The US Treasury Department said it was designating more than 180 ships and Russian oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, fulfilling "the G7 ...

The Caesar Act: A Long And Winding Road

For over thirteen years, Syria has been at the heart of one of the bloodiest civil wars of the past half-century. While the fighting has subsided with the fall of Bashar al-Assad – overthrown on December 8, 2024, by a coalition of rebels led by the group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) – the country remains mired in an unprecedented economic and ...

US Sanctions Top Hungary Minister Over 'Corruption'

The United States announced sanctions against the head of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's cabinet on Tuesday for his alleged involvement in corruption. Antal Rogan, a minister who oversees the country's intelligence services and government communication, has "orchestrated schemes designed to control several strategic sectors ...

US Accuses Sudan's RSF of Committing 'Genocide', Sanctions Leader

The United States determined on Tuesday that members of Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had "committed genocide" and imposed sanctions on the paramilitary group's leader. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the determination was based on information about the RSF's "systematic" murder of men and boys and the targeted rape of women and girls ...

US Temporarily Eases Some Syria Sanctions

The United States announced Monday that it was providing additional sanctions relief on some activities in Syria for the next six months to ease access to basic services following the fall of strongman Bashar al-Assad. The US Treasury said it had issued a new general license to expand the allowed activities and transactions with Syria while ...

Syrian Ministers Urge Lifting of US Sanctions in First Visit to Doha

Ministers from Syria's transitional government urged the United States to lift its sanctions on Damascus during their first visit to Qatar since overthrowing president Bashar al-Assad. In a statement, Qatar's foreign ministry said the Gulf country's premier met with Syria's interim foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, defense minister Murhaf Abu ...

Qatar Says Sanctions on Syria Must Be Lifted Quickly

Qatar called on Tuesday for the quick removal of sanctions on Syria following the ousting of president Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebels. "We call for intensified efforts to expedite the lifting of international sanctions on Syria," foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari told a regular briefing. Qatar's call came a day after a ...

New U.S. Sanctions on Iranian Oil

The United States has intensified sanctions against a growing number of oil tankers and companies accused of being involved in the trade of Iranian oil, Bloomberg reported,. Nine ships and eight companies have been added to the sanctions list, according to a government statement released on Thursday. Among the vessels targeted is the MS Enola, ...

US Slaps Sanctions on Dozens of Russian Banks over Ukraine War

The United States unveiled sanctions on dozens of Russian banks Thursday, including the largest remaining one yet to face such action, over the war in Ukraine. The move taking aim at financial institutions and officials "will further diminish and degrade Russia's war machine," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. "This sweeping ...

New European and British Sanctions on Iran Over Support for Russia

Iran's foreign ministry Tuesday slammed as unjustified the new sanctions by the European Union and Britain against Tehran over its support for Russia's war on Ukraine. "While the president of Ukraine has admitted that no Iranian ballistic missiles have been exported to Russia, the measures of the European Union and United Kingdom in ...

US Sanctions Syrian Firm for Selling Oil to Fund Iranian Proxies

The US unveiled sanctions Thursday against 26 people, firms and ships allegedly associated with a Syrian conglomerate making hundreds of millions of dollars selling oil on behalf of Iran and its proxies. The US Treasury Department said in a statement that its designations were related to the Al-Qatirji Company, which it accuses of generating vast ...

Iran, Russia Link Bank Card Systems in Latest Move to Overcome Sanctions

Iranian bank cards can now be used in Russia, state television reported, as the two countries linked their banking systems in the latest bid to counteract sanctions. Iranian banks have been excluded since 2018 from the SWIFT international financial messaging service, which governs the vast majority of transactions worldwide. The move is part of ...