The U.S. last week sanctioned two people and six entities linked to Myanmar’s military regime and issued a new alert to warn companies about the risks of providing jet fuel to the country’s military.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week issued new sanctions against three entities, nine people and one aircraft in Belarus for the country's suppression of pro-democracy protests following its "fraudulent" 2020 presidential elections.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published in the Federal Register a previously issued general license under its Syrian Sanctions Regulations. The notice includes the full text of the license.

The number of ships carrying sanctioned fuel has increased in recent years, creating a “shadow” fleet of tankers that operate without insurance or oversight, Reuters reported March 23. Industry observers fear the rise in shadow vessels could “undermine decades-long industry efforts to increase shipping safety,” particularly as more vessels turn to carrying sanctioned Russian and Iranian energy shipments. The report tracked at least eight groundings, collisions or near misses involving tankers carrying sanctioned energy products last year, adding that the shadow fleet is estimated to include at least 400 to 600 ships, about a fifth of the total global crude oil tanker fleet.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned four entities and three people in Iran and Turkey for procuring equipment for Iran’s drone and weapons programs. The designations target Farazan Industrial Engineering, a company that has tried to buy tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of European turbine engines for Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles, and its managing director Amanallah Paidar. Also sanctioned were Iran’s Defense Technology and Science Research Center; Murat Bukey, a procurement agent; Ozone Havacilik Ve Savunma Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, which facilitates Bukey’s business with Iran; Asghar Mahmoudi, who has provided marine electronics to Iran; and Selin Technic, used as a front company by Mahmoudi.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published a previously issued Russia sanctions determination and general licenses. One notice includes a previously issued Russia-related sector determination published under April 15, 2021, executive order, and the others include previously issued general licenses under the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations.

The U.N. Security Council last week revised 102 entries on its ISIL (Da’esh) and al-Qaida sanctions list. The changes include “technical amendments” to each entry, the council said.

Canada this month banned imports of aluminum and steel products from Russia, including railway track construction materials, cast iron tubes and pipes, iron and steel sheet piling and more. Canada has imposed a range of sanctions and import restrictions against Russia since it invaded Ukraine, including prohibitions on Russia’s oil, gas and chemical sectors (see 2207110008).

The Financial Action Task Force officially suspended Russia's membership, the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network told U.S. banks this month. The FATF -- which establishes international standards for financial institutions to combat terrorist financing, money laundering and weapons proliferation -- noted Russia’s “actions unacceptably run counter to the FATF core principles aiming to promote security, safety, and the integrity of the global financial system,” FinCEN said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned three people in Bosnia and Herzegovina for “undermining stability and perpetuating corruption.” The designations target Osman Mehmedagic, director general of the country’s Intelligence Security Agency; Dragan Stankovic, director of the Republika Srpska Administration for Geodetic and Property Affairs; and Edin Gacanin, “one of the world’s most prolific drug traffickers.” The three “constitute a threat to regional stability, institutional trust, and the aspirations of those seeking democratic governance in the Western Balkans,” Brian Nelson, Treasury’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said March 15.