The U.S. still has “serious differences” with Iran over potentially rejoining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a senior State Department official said, stressing that a deal isn’t imminent. The two sides disagree over a range of issues, the official said, including the nuclear steps Iran must take, the sanctions relief the U.S. will offer and the “sequence” of actions both sides will take. “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed,” the official said, speaking on a June 24 call with reporters. “And since everything is not agreed, we still don't have anything nailed down.”
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas spoke June 23 about the two countries' disagreements about Nord Stream 2 and plan to work together to ease the U.S.’s concerns, they said. While the U.S. recently waived sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG (see 2106070065), the company behind the pipeline, the U.S. continues to “believe” the project is “a threat to Europe's energy security,” Blinken told reporters in a joint press conference with Maas.
The U.S. extended the national emergency authorizing sanctions and trade restrictions against North Korea for one year beyond June 26, 2021, the White House said June 21. It said North Korea continues “to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security and foreign policy.
The United Kingdom's Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended its Russian sanctions regime, revising the entry for Sergey Valeryevich Aksyonov in a June 21 financial sanctions notice. Aksyonov was listed as part of the U.K.'s response to Russia's annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and “continued destabilisation of Ukraine.” The amendment removed “Petro Zyma” as an alternate name for Aksyonov.
The European Union added eight individuals and four entities to its sanctions on Myanmar related to the Feb. 1 military coup and “ensuing repression against peaceful demonstrators,” the bloc announced in a June 21 news release. The United Kingdom added three entities to its Myanmar sanctions regime, as announced in a financial sanctions notice. Both sanctions listings include a travel ban and assets freeze on the listed individual or entity.
The United Nations Security Council on June 17 added one entry to its ISIL (Da’esh) and al-Qaida Sanctions List. The entry is Mohammad Ali al Habbo, a Turkey-based “facilitator” who provides financial services to al-Qaida. The United Kingdom added the entry to its Sanctions List June 18 (see 2106180006).
Mohammad Ali al Habbo has been added to the United Kingdom's sanctions regime on ISIL and al-Qaida, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation said in a June 18 financial sanctions notice. Al Habbo is a Syrian national based in Turkey who has been identified as providing financial services to ISIL.
The State Department designated Guatemalan Congressperson Boris Espana Caceres due to “significant corruption,” the agency said June 17. The State Department said Espana has been involved in bribery and has “jeopardized the stability of Guatemala’s democratic institutions.” The agency also designated his spouse, Liliana Maria Umana Lemus de Espana; his daughter, Karol Andrea Espana Umana; and his minor child.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control on June 16 revised two entries on its Non-Specially Designated National Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List. OFAC changed the entries for the Aviation Industry Corp. of China, which was identified as a Chinese military company in June 2020 (see 2006250024), and China National Offshore Oil Corp., which was identified in December 2020 (see 2011300038).
The State Department designated former Namibian government officials Bernhardt Esau and Sakeus Shanghala for involvement in corruption, the agency said June 15. The State Department said they “undermined” the Namibian public’s faith in their government’s democratic institutions and used their political influence for their own benefit. The agency also sanctioned Esau's wife, Swamma, and his son, Philippus.