Mr. Sanctions

Category: Press Releases

  • February 25, 2026: State Department press release on OFAC actions

    Sanctions to Disrupt Iran’s Weapons Procurement Networks and Shadow Fleet

    PRESS STATEMENT

    THOMAS “TOMMY” PIGOTT, PRINCIPAL DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON

    FEBRUARY 25, 2026

    The United States is designating individuals and entities involved in multiple weapons procurement networks based in Iran, Türkiye, and the United Arab Emirates supporting the Iranian regime’s ballistic missile and advanced conventional weapons (ACW) development.  We are also sanctioning numerous shadow fleet vessels and their owners or operators that have collectively transported hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum, petroleum products, and petrochemical products.           

    The Iranian regime continues to mismanage its economy, with catastrophic consequences for its people, and prioritizes funding of foreign proxies and missiles over the basic needs of ordinary Iranians.  Today’s sanctions target the illicit funds that the regime uses to advance its malign and destabilizing ends.   

    This action implements President Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum 2 by countering the Iranian regime’s aggressive development of missiles and other asymmetric and conventional weapons capabilities.  It also denies the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps access to assets and resources that sustain its destabilizing activities.  The nonproliferation designations today support the reimposition of United Nations restrictive measures and sanctions on Iran, which occurred as a direct result of the Iranian regime’s “significant non-performance” of its nuclear commitments. 

    The United States will continue to use all available means to expose, disrupt, and counter the Iranian regime’s ability to procure revenue to develop its weapons programs and fund its destabilizing behavior. 

    The Department of the Treasury’s action was taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their supporters, E.O. 13949, the Iran conventional arms authority, and E.O. 13902, which authorizes sanctions related to key sectors of Iran’s economy. For more information on today’s actions, please see the Department of the Treasury’s Press Release.

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  • February 13, 2026: Two more Venezuela General Licenses… and a Press Release from the State Department

    From the Recent Actions page:

    Issuance of Venezuela-related General Licenses

    The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is issuing Venezuela-related General License 49, “Authorizing Negotiations of and Entry Into Contingent Contracts for Certain Investment in Venezuela;” and Venezuela-related General License 50, “Authorizing Transactions Related to Oil or Gas Sector Operations in Venezuela of Certain Entities.”

    GL 49:

    venezuela_gl49Download

    GL 50:

    venezuela_gl50Download

    And, in a related note, the State Department recapped all the recent relaxations in the sanctions program:

    Actions to Implement President Trump’s Vision for Venezuelan Oil

    MEDIA NOTE

    OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON

    FEBRUARY 13, 2026

    The Trump Administration is rapidly implementing President Trump’s vision to reopen and develop Venezuela’s oil industry for the shared benefit of the American and Venezuelan people. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the United States has already issued several general licenses at record speed for oil and gas companies to make unprecedented investments in Venezuela’s energy infrastructure. 

    On January 29, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) issued Venezuela General License (GL) 46, which authorizes firms incorporated in the United States to market Venezuelan oil to buyers around the world, and largely in the United States. Payment must be made on commercially reasonable terms – in contrast to the heavily discounted prices for which the corrupt Maduro regime sold oil – and must be paid into an account in the United States established and with oversight by the Departments of State and Treasury. We will assure these funds are spent transparently and for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.

    • On February 3, OFAC issued Venezuela GL 47, which authorizes firms to sell U.S.-origin diluent – a product essential for oil production – to Venezuela. This action provides significant benefit both to the Venezuelan people and to the U.S. economy.
    • On February 10, OFAC issued Venezuela GL 48, which authorizes U.S. firms to provide goods, equipment, and services for the Venezuelan oil and gas industry. By utilizing this GL, U.S. firms will play a critical role in repairing and upgrading Venezuela’s oil and gas infrastructure for the benefit of the Venezuelan people.
    • On February 13, OFAC issued Venezuela GL 50, which authorizes certain firms in Venezuela to expand their operations, including pursing additional upstream oil and gas projects. On February 13, OFAC issued Venezuela GL 49, which authorizes oil and gas firms to negotiate and enter into contingent contracts with Venezuela to invest in upstream oil and gas projects. The Trump Administration will subsequently review for approval the proposed contracts to ensure they advance the interests of the American and Venezuelan people. These investments will lay the foundation for the modernization of the Venezuelan oil and gas industry, increase production, and shore up U.S. supply lines in our own hemisphere. 

    Venezuela holds tremendous economic potential, but years of instability, corruption, and economic mismanagement have limited the nation’s growth and prosperity. These general licenses invite American and other aligned companies to play a constructive role in supporting economic recovery and responsible investment. Additional authorizations may also be issued as necessary in furtherance of President Trump’s vision. The United States is committed to restoring Venezuela’s prosperity, safety, and security for the benefit of both the American and Venezuelan people. With renewed cooperation and sound economic stewardship, Venezuela can reemerge as a stable, prosperous partner whose citizens benefit from its vast natural wealth and strengthened ties with the United States.

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  • January 4, 2026: Ukraine adds to its Russia sanctions

    From the Ukraine’s Presidential website:

    Ukraine Imposed Sanctions on Individuals and Companies Producing and Supplying Communications Equipment, EW Systems, and Microelectronics for Russia’s Military-Industrial Complex

    President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a decree enacting a decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose sanctions on 95 individuals and 70 legal entities, the majority of whom are citizens and residents of the Russian Federation.

    These are individuals and companies linked to servicing Russia’s state defense order and to the activities of its military-industrial complex.

    They include enterprises and their executives that produce and supply products in the fields of communications, electronic warfare, and microelectronics for Russia’s military-industrial complex and security agencies.

    Sanctions have been imposed on industrial enterprises in Russia’s chemical, extractive, and metallurgical sectors, as well as in its fuel and energy complex.

    The imposed restrictions are intended to complicate the servicing of Russia’s military-industrial complex and to limit its capacity to produce weapons and military equipment used in the war against Ukraine.

    Our country will continue working with partners to synchronize Ukrainian sanctions within partner jurisdictions. Some of these listings will be reflected in the 20th sanctions package of the European Union, which is currently being prepared.

    No links were provided to the details of the designated parties.

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  • Backgrounder: UK removes Syria sanctions in April 2025

    The following is a summarized version of the original press release from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO):

    The UK government changed Syria sanctions to help the country rebuild following the fall of the Assad regime.

    Here is a simple breakdown of what happened and why:

    What changed?

    • Easing Restrictions: The UK removed bans on key industries like bankingand energy production. This was done to encourage investment and help get Syria’s infrastructure working again.
    • Lifting Sanctions: Specific sanctions have been dropped against 12 major entities, including the Syrian Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior, and various media companies. This followed the earlier unfreezing of assets for the Central Bank of Syria and the national airline.

    Why did they do this?

    • To Help Rebuild: The main goal is to let money flow back into the country so the Syrian people can repair their economy and infrastructure after years of conflict.
    • To Support Stability: The UK believes a stable Syria is safer for the region and for the UK itself.

    What is staying the same?

    • Punishing the Old Regime: Sanctions remain in place against individuals from the former Assad regime and those involved in the illegal drug trade (specifically the synthetic stimulant captagon).
    • Accountability: The new rules still allow the UK to punish human rights violations committed by Assad and his associates.

    Additional Support

    • The UK pledged £160 million in 2025 to help with Syria’s recovery and humanitarian needs.

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