The U.K. sanctioned Northern Ireland resident Brian Sheridan under suspicions that he was providing financial assistance to members of the New Irish Republican Army, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation announced. The designation was made under the domestic counterterrorism sanctions regime. U.K. Economic Secretary to the Treasury Tulip Siddiq said the listing is the "first use of the Treasury-led domestic counter terrorism financial sanctions regime targeting Northern Ireland related terrorism."

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned 35 vessels and ship management firms involved in transporting Iranian petroleum to foreign markets, which OFAC said provides the country’s government with money to develop weapons and fund terrorism. The designations target a “sprawling network” of tankers that carry the flags of the Marshall Islands, Guyana, the Cook Islands, Liberia, Honduras, Panama and more, as well as their managers based in the United Arab Emirates, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Seychelles and elsewhere.

The Council of the European Union on Dec. 2 renewed its global human rights sanctions regime for another year, extending the restrictions until Dec. 8, 2025. The restrictions currently apply to 116 individuals and 33 entities.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned three former Uzbekistan officials for their involvement in human trafficking and physical and sexual violence against children at a state-run orphanage. The designations, which mark the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, target Yulduz Khudaiberganova, Anvar Kuryazov and Aybek Masharipov, who OFAC said "participated in repeated physical abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking of orphan children" and other human rights abuses.

The U.S. Helsinki Commission, also known as the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, plans to hold a hearing Dec. 5 to examine how Belarus has aided Russia’s war against Ukraine through sanctions evasion and other means.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned 21 security and Cabinet-level officials with ties to the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela for supporting Maduro’s efforts to “fraudulently declare himself” the victor of the country’s July presidential election (see 2407290044 and 2310180070). The designations target members of Venezuela's security forces and government agencies that have helped to repress dissenting voices and maintain Maduro’s control over the country. Bradley Smith, Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said the agency will “continue to shine a light on those who seek to use violence and intimidation to undermine democratic governance and the legitimate exercise of free speech.”

The Council of the European Union on Nov. 25 extended its sanctions regime pertaining to Turkey's unauthorized drilling activities in the Eastern Mediterranean in 2019 for another year. The restrictions now run until Nov. 30, 2025.

The Council of the European Union on Nov. 25 added three Syrian ministers to its Syria sanctions regime for human rights violations. They are Louai Emad El-Din al-Munajjid, the recently appointed minister of internal trade and consumer protection; Firas Hassan Qaddour, the re-appointed minister of petroleum and mineral resources; and Ahmed Mohammad Bustaji, minister of state. The EU's Syrian sanctions list now covers 318 people and 86 entities.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned five people with links to the Gulf Cartel, which OFAC said is one of Mexico’s “most dangerous criminal organizations.” The designations target Ismael Guerra Salinas and his brother Omar Guerra Salinas, the Gulf Cartel members in charge of the Playa Bagdad region. Other designations target Francisco Javier Sierra Angulo, who leads the Gulf Cartel in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, and Raul Decuir Garcia and Ildelfonso Carrillo Sapien, who oversee boats that help the cartel move drugs and migrants into U.S. waters.

The U.K. added two financial services companies to its Russia sanctions regime on Nov. 25. Alfastrakhovanie and VSK were listed for operating in the Russian financial services sector, which is a "sector of strategic significance to the Government of Russia," OFSI said.