The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published previously issued Syrian Sanctions Regulations General License 22. The notice includes the full text of the license.

The U.S. this week sanctioned three people for supporting North Korea through “illicit financing and malicious cyber activity,” the Office of Foreign Assets Control said. Wu Huihui is a China-based based virtual currency trader who helps convert virtual currency stolen by North Korean “actors” working with the U.S.-sanctioned Lazarus Group (see 1909130039), and Cheng Hung Man is a Hong Kong based virtual currency trader who works with Wu to “remit payment to companies in exchange for virtual currency.” OFAC also sanctioned China-based Sim Hyon Sop for working for U.S.-sanctioned Korea Kwangson Banking Corp. (see 1907230027) and coordinating “millions of dollars in financial transfers” for North Korea.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned four senior officials with the Law Enforcement Forces of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for their involvement in suppressing 2022 protests stemming from the arrest and death of Mahsa Jina Amini, who was accused of not correctly wearing a hijab. The designated officials are: Parviz Absalan, Amanollah Goshtasbi, Ahmed Khadem Seyedoshohada and Salman Adinehvand.

The U.S. sent a Treasury Department official to Europe last week to discuss Russian sanctions evasion tactics with Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Germany, including ways those countries’ governments, business groups and banks can identify red flags. Brian Nelson, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, shared the “most critical inputs” that Russia is looking to backfill -- including optics, electronics, and manufacturing equipment -- and shared the “emerging sanctions evasion typologies” Russia is using to evade sanctions and export controls, Treasury said.

The State Department maintained its designation of the Islamic Jihad Union and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan as foreign terrorist organizations. The agency said circumstances haven’t changed “in such a manner as to warrant revocation of the designation.”

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned three Nicaraguan judicial officials involved in human rights abuses conducted by President Daniel Ortega regime. The designations target Ernesto Leonel Rodriguez Mejia, Nadia Camila Tardencilla Rodriguez and Octavio Ernesto Rothschuh Andino, who preside over courts that affirmed decisions that revoked the citizenship of more than 300 Nicaraguan citizens for opposing the government.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control April 19 again extended a general license that continues to delay an exemption that would authorize certain transactions related to Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. General License 5K, which replaced GL 5J, now authorizes certain transactions with PdVSA involving an 8.5% bond on or after July 20. The agency also updated a frequently asked question to reflect the change. The previous license was set to allow those transactions to occur on or after April 20.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned one person and several entities involved in a sanctions evasion network that has helped Iran procure electronic parts for its unmanned aerial vehicles program. The designations target Mehdi Khoshghadam, the head of the sanctioned Pardazan System Namad Arman, along with several front companies based in Iran, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China, OFAC said April 19. Those companies are “suppliers that have enabled PASNA’s procurement of goods and technology,” including Amv AJ Nilgoun Bushehr, PASNA International, Arttronix International, Jotrin Electronics, Vohom Technology and Yinke Electronics.

The State Department recently amended the Specially Designated Global Terrorist designation for Qari Amjad to reflect that he uses two additional aliases, Mufti Hazrat Deroji and Mufti Hazrat Ali, with Mufti Hazrat Deroji “the primary name for this person.” The State Department originally designated Amjad in December (see 2212140015).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week removed an entry for Indian national Manoj Sabharwal from its Specially Designated Nationals List. OFAC sanctioned Sabharwa in 2021 for ties to a smuggling network that funds Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and the Houthis in Yemen (see 2106110018). The agency didn’t release more information on the removal.