The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued a finding of violation to Fairhaven, Massachusetts-based Dominica Maritime Registry for illicitly dealing in the property or interests of property of the National Iranian Tanker Company, part of the government of Iran whose property and interests in property are blocked, OFAC said. Dominica violated the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations by executing a binding memorandum of understanding on July 4, 2015, with the Iranian company, “which OFAC determined was a contingent contract and therefore property in which NITC, a blocked person, had an interest,” OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added two individuals and one entity to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under Kingpin Act designations, OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added one individual, 13 entities and 20 vessels to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under North Korea designations, OFAC said Nov. 21. The agency also deleted one individual from its specially designated global terrorist designations.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added two individuals and four entities to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under counterterrorism designations, OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control is removing the Ivory Coast Sanctions Regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations after former President Barack Obama terminated the national emergency designation for the country on Sept. 14, 2016 (see 1609140023), OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added nine individuals and updated one existing individual on its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under Venezuela designations, OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has updated the entry on its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under counterterrorism designations, OFAC said.

Russian sanctions enacted through legislation signed into law Aug. 2 will take effect starting Jan. 29, said the Office of Foreign Assets Control in guidance released Oct. 31. According to the guidance, the U.S. government will ban the export or re-export of goods or technology in support of exploration or production for deep-water, Arctic offshore or shale projects that have the potential to produce oil in any location, and in which any Russian subject to Executive Order 13662 of March 20, 2014, has either a 33 percent or greater ownership interest or ownership of a majority of the voting interests. Prohibitions that remain imposed include those implemented Sept. 12, 2014, on the export and re-export of goods or technology in support of exploration or production for deep-water, Arctic offshore or shale projects that have the potential to produce oil in Russia, or in Russia-claimed maritime area and extending from its territory, and that involve any Russian person subject to any associated directive, or their property or property interests, the guidance says.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has added seven individuals and three entities to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under North Korea designations, and also made 53 deletions, under transnational criminal organization designations, OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control has removed 157 entities from its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under Sudan designations, OFAC said. In a separate action, OFAC added eight individuals and one entity to the SDN list under counterterrorism designations, the agency said.