After settling with the Treasury Department for allegedly violating U.S. sanctions against Iran (see 2305180028), U.S. skin care company Murad is “committed to complying with U.S. economic sanctions laws,” a spokesperson said, adding that it has since “adopted appropriate sanctions and export control policies and procedures.” The company “extended our full cooperation to US authorities to resolve this matter."

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published previously issued General License O under its Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations. The full text of the license is available in the notice.

President Joe Biden this week renewed a national emergency authorizing certain sanctions related to Iraq. The White House said "obstacles to the orderly reconstruction" of peace, security and economic institutions in Iraq continue to threaten U.S. national security. The sanctions were renewed for another year from May 22.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control amended and replaced its South Sudan Sanctions Regulations to “further implement” a 2014 executive order. The new, “more comprehensive” set of regulations includes “additional interpretive and definitional guidance, general licenses, and other regulatory provisions that will provide further guidance to the public,” OFAC said. The changes take effect May 18.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned Russian national Mikhail Matveev for helping to launch cyberattacks against U.S. law enforcement, businesses and critical infrastructure. Matveev is a “central figure” in the development and deployment of several Russia-linked “ransomware variants,” OFAC said, including Hive, LockBit and Babuk. OFAC said the designation was announced alongside an indictment by DOJ and a $10 million reward by the State Department for information that leads to Matveev’s arrest or conviction.

U.S. and EU sanctions authorities met April 26-28 to share best practices surrounding sanctions “design, implementation and compliance,” the Treasury Department said May 16. During the “technical” meetings -- held between officials with the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the European External Action Service and the European Commission -- the agencies “identified ways to align” sanctions implementation, promote compliance, improve enforcement and “address shared foreign policy challenges,” Treasury said. They also discussed ways to ensure sanctions don’t prevent humanitarian aid. “The partners have been working together to provide coordinated information to the compliance community and will continue to update and maintain their sanctions-related lists and published guidance,” Treasury said.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week published a previously issued general license under its Global Magnitsky Sanctions Regulations. The notice includes the full text of the license, which authorizes certain transactions involving Tabacos USA, Tabacalera del Este or any entity they own by 50% or more (see 2303310033).

President Joe Biden last week renewed a national emergency that authorizes certain sanctions against Yemen. Actions and policies of certain former members of the Yemeni government and others continue to “pose an unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security, the White House said. The emergency was extended for one year from May 16.

The Group of 7 countries this week are planning to announce new sanctions and export controls against Russia, including measures to target sanctions evasion by third countries, Reuters reported May 14. The new measures, which are expected during the G-7 summit in Japan May 19-21, will seek to further limit Russia’s energy production and target trade that is supporting Russia's military, the report said. U.S. officials also expect G-7 countries to expand export controls over certain categories of goods so that “all exports are automatically banned unless they are on a list of approved items,” the report said. The measures haven’t yet been finalized. The White House didn’t comment.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control removed Czech Republic-based Skoda JS A.S. from its Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List. The entity had been subject to certain Russia/Ukraine-related restrictions and had ties to Gazprombank, OFAC said. The agency didn’t immediately release more information.