The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week imposed sanctions on 15 Khordad Foundation, an Iranian organization responsible for the bounty on author Salman Rushdie. 15 Khordad Foundation has "committed millions of dollars" toward a bounty on the author since 1989 and has raised the bounty amount several times, most recently to $3.3 million, OFAC said in an Oct. 28 news release. The foundation, along with other Iranian entities, has led to the death and injury of several people associated with Rushdie, including writers, translators and publishers, OFAC said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned nine people and 12 entities this week in an effort to counter "persistent malign influence campaigns and systemic corruption in Moldova" by Russian actors, the agency said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned 10 Iranian officials, two Iranian intelligence actors and two other Iranian entities related to the ongoing crackdown on protests in Iran and the Iranian government’s efforts to disrupt digital freedom, according to an Oct. 26 press release.

The U.S. should work closely with industry to protect against sanctions risks in the digital-asset marketplace, including through novel security tools, cryptocurrency privacy company Iron Fish said in comments this month to the Treasury Department.

Canada last week sanctioned six people and four entities for their involvement in human rights violations in Iran. Among the designations are the Guardian Council, an entity that blocks meaningful participation in Iran’s elections; the Assembly of Experts, an entity that has neglected to uphold certain “constitutional provisions”; and the Expediency Discernment Council, an entity that “upholds laws that systematically violate the human rights of Iranians.” Others sanctioned include Deputy Interior Minister Seyyed Majid Mirahmadi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps official Mohammad Karami and Ezzatollah Zarghami, former leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting Corporation.

The State Department last week released a fact sheet on the impact of global sanctions and export controls on Russia, outlining the “significant and long-lasting consequences” on Russia’s defense industrial base. The fact sheet describes Russia’s struggle to import semiconductors, aircraft parts and weapons and outlines various U.S. restrictions implemented since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February.

The U.S. is considering additional sanctions on both Russia and Iran following Iranian sales and operation of drones in Ukraine, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said, speaking during an Oct. 20 call with reporters. He confirmed that Iranian "military personnel" were on the ground in Crimea assisting Russia in the use of purchased combat drones, adding that Russia has "dozens" of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and is "likely [to] continue to receive additional shipments in the future."

The U.S. this week threatened sanctions on any parties involved in transferring drones from Iran to Russia, saying it has “abundant evidence” that Russia is using the drones to strike Ukraine. The State Department said the U.S., along with the U.K. and France, raised the issue at an Oct. 19 U.N. Security Council meeting, adding that unmanned aerial vehicles from Iran are being used to target civilians and civilian infrastructure.

In coordination with DOJ and the FBI, the Office of Foreign Assets Control has added one individual and two organizations to its Specially Designated Nationals list, according to an Oct. 19 notice.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control added three individuals and four entities to its Specially Designated Nationals list in connection with alleged narcotics trafficking, according to an Oct. 19 notice.