The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned six people and two entities that it said are helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions and smuggle weapons or that have ties to corruption in Iraq.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned more than 50 people, entities and ships for helping move and sell Iranian oil and liquefied petroleum gas, earning the Iranian government "billions of dollars" for its support of terrorism, the agency said. The designations targeted nearly two dozen shadow fleet vessels and their owners, a China-based crude oil terminal, a Chinese refinery and others.

The U.N. Security Council and the U.K. this week amended listings under their sanctions regimes.

The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) has asked to begin a criminal prosecution of two Latvian nationals for providing prohibited project management services to Russian companies, violating European Union sanctions, it announced Oct. 1.

Japan is reimposing certain sanctions against Iran following the U.N.'s move last month to reimpose Iranian restrictions that were paused after the 2015 nuclear deal (see 2510010018 and 2508280033), according to an unofficial translation of a notice from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. The designations target 78 entities and 43 people for their involvement in "Iran's proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities and the development of nuclear weapons delivery means," Japan said. The measures also include certain investment restrictions, import bans and prohibitions on fund transfers.

Turkey recently reimposed certain sanctions against Iran following the U.N.'s move last month to reimpose Iranian restrictions that were paused after the 2015 nuclear deal (see 2510010018 and 2508280033). Turkey's designations apply to nearly 40 people and entities, according to an unofficial translation.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control on Oct. 6 removed Horacio Manuel Cartes, former president of Paraguay, from its Specially Designated Nationals List. OFAC also removed five entities that had been sanctioned for supporting Cartes or for ties to the former president, including Tabacalera del Este, Tabesa, Frigorifico Chajha, Dominicana Acquisition, Bebidas and Tabacos. The agency didn't release more information.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned eight Mexicans and 12 Mexico-based companies that it said have ties to the Sinaloa Cartel’s Los Chapitos faction, a group designated in June for helping to traffic fentanyl to the U.S. (see 2506090023).

The U.K. on Oct. 3 revised the addresses for Embers of an Empire and Rampage Productions under its domestic counterterrorism sanctions and removed an alias for Europaisch-Iranische Handelsbank under its Iran (nuclear) sanctions regime.

The Council of the European Union on Oct. 3 renewed its individual sanctions on those responsible for Russia's hybrid activities, including "Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) against the EU and its member states and partners," for one year. The restrictions, which cover 47 people and 15 entities, now run until Oct. 9, 2026.