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Last Week's Major Developments in Sanctions - April 28th, 2025, to May 2nd, 2025

  • Writer: Amir Fadavi
    Amir Fadavi
  • May 5
  • 3 min read
You can now listen to the audio version of our weekly sanctions updates here.

Monday, April 28

  • OFAC imposed blocking sanctions against three entities and three vessels for supplying petroleum products to Houthi-controlled ports pursuant to counterterrorism Executive Order 13224. (Here, and the Department of the Treasury press release, and the Department of State press release)

  • The European Council extended the sanctions regime related to efforts to destabilize the Republic of Moldova for another year through April 29, 2026.. (Here) 

  • The European Council amended Decision (CFSP) 2015/1333 to align the EU’ Libya sanctions regime with the UNSC Resolution 2769 (2025) by introducing two exemptions to the Libyan arms embargo, a new listing criterion, and modifying the scope of the measures imposed on the Libyan Investment Authority. (Here) 

  • OFSI issued a general license to allow the transfer of assets and liabilities as part of the integration of Credit Suisse Group AG into UBS Group AG to avoid the company being in breach of  64 of The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. (Here)

  • OFSI amended General Licence INT/2025/5855272 under regulation 64 of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 which allow receiving payments transferred from an account held with Gazprombank to include the International Maritime Organization. (Here)

  • OFSI granted General Licence - INT/2025/6160920 under Regulation 64 of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and Regulation 32 of the Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. The license permits UK legal firms providing legal advice to a designated person to receive payment without an OFSI specific license. (Here)


Tuesday, April 29

  • OFAC imposed blocking sanctions against six individuals and six entities based in Iran and China for procuring ballistic missile propellant ingredients on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The action was taken pursuant of Executive Order 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction to Iran. (Here, and the Department of the Treasury press release and the Department of State Press release).


Wednesday, April 30

  • OFAC imposed blocking sanctions against seven entities and two vessels under Executive Order 13846 for their role in trading Iranian petroleum products and petrochemical products. (Here, the Department of State press release, and the Department of State fact sheet)

  • The U.S. Department of Justice declined to prosecute Universities Space Research Association after it self-disclosed to the Department’s National Security Division criminal violations of US export control laws committed by a former employee. (Here)

  • The EU Commission updated FAQs on the implementation of Council Regulation No 833/2014 and No 269/2014 that impose asset-freezing sanctions on Russia for invading Ukraine. The commission updated questions 6, 7, 10, 21, 22, 23, and 40. (Here)


Thursday, May 1

  • OFAC imposed blocking sanctions on three individuals and two entities involved in a drug trafficking and fuel theft network linked to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act and Executive Order 14059. (Here, the Department of the Treasury press release, and the Department of State press release)

  • Concurrently, FinCEN in coordination with OFAC and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations, issued an alert to urge financial institutions to be vigilant in detecting, identifying, and reporting suspicious activity connected to the smuggling of stolen crude oil from Mexico across the U.S. southwest border into the United States by Cartels. (Here)


Friday, May 2

  • OFAC designated two Haitian criminal groups, Viv Ansanm and Gran Grif, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224 for their role in destabilizing Haiti. (Here, the Department of State press release and the Department of State fact sheet)

  • FinCEN issued a finding and notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) pursuant to Section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act that identifies Cambodia-based Huione Group as a financial institution of primary money laundering concern and proposes to sever its access to the U.S. financial system. (Here)

  • The UK DBT’s Export Control Joint Unit published a notice to exporters giving them advance notice about the forthcoming changes in UK’s export controls which come into force on May 20th. (Here) 


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