The Treasury Department is seeking public comments on how it should implement the Genius Act, which became law in July and is partly meant to prevent criminals, terror groups and others from using stablecoins to launder money, evade sanctions or finance terrorism. The agency is looking for feedback on potential regulations "that may be promulgated by Treasury," including around "regulatory clarity, prohibitions on certain issuances and marketing, Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) anti-money laundering (AML) and sanctions obligations," and more.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned the Lex Instituto de Estudos Juridicos LTDA, a holding company for Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who was sanctioned earlier this year for ordering "arbitrary" pretrial detentions and suppressing freedom of expression (see 2507300031). OFAC said Moraes used the company for ownership of his residence and other residential properties. The agency also sanctioned Moraes' wife, Viviane Barci de Moraes, who served as the head of the company. They were both designated under Global Magnitsky-related human rights authorities.

The U.K. last week sanctioned two people based in Georgia, along with companies in Russia and England, for supporting Russia or doing business with the country.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week issued a new form that it said will simplify how companies report property that has been unblocked or transferred, "easing the burden on filers and improving OFAC's processing efficiency." It said the form is optional but "strongly encouraged."

The U.K. on Sept. 18 amended the entry for China-based Autel Robotics under its Russia sanctions regime. The listing was revised to remove Autel Intelligent Technology as Autel Robotics' parent company.

Australia this week announced new sanctions against Russia and also said it's lowering its price cap on Russian oil from $60 per barrel to $47.60 per barrel, following a similar move by other nations imposing the cap (see 2507180017 and 2509120045). The new designations target 95 Russian "shadow fleet" vessels that are helping Moscow evade international sanctions, Australia said. "We will continue to take coordinated and decisive action to disrupt Russia's ability to fund its invasion, including through constraining its oil revenues."

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned Los Mayos, an affiliate of the designated Sinaloa Cartel, for producing and trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana, heroin and methamphetamine from northwest Mexico into the U.S. OFAC also sanctioned five people and 15 companies aiding Los Mayos just south of the U.S.-Mexico border.

The State Department this week announced the designations of four Iran-aligned militant groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The groups -- Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kata’ib al-Imam Ali -- have aided Iran's military, including by planning attacks on U.S. facilities, the State Department said. "Engaging in certain transactions with them entails risk of secondary sanctions pursuant to counterterrorism authorities," it added.

The European Commission on Sept. 16 proposed suspending certain trade concessions made between the EU and Israel and sanctioning members of Hamas, extremist Israeli ministers and violent settlers. The commission also said it's "putting on hold its bilateral support to Israel," except for certain support to civil society and the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned a network of people and companies that it said are helping Iran move money, sell oil and evade international sanctions. The designations target financial facilitators in Iran, as well as more than a dozen people and companies based in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates.