Washington Tightens Financial Pressure on Hezbollah

The U.S. Department of the Treasury stated that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued General License No. 131I related to Russia, permitting certain transactions associated with negotiations for conditional sales contracts involving Lukoil International GmbH, along with related maintenance activities.

It also updated two frequently asked questions related to Russia—FAQ 1224 and FAQ 1225—and one frequently asked question related to Cuba, FAQ 1265.

Similarly, OFAC updated its list of specially designated nationals and blocked persons (SDN), adding numerous individuals, entities, and vessels.

New Individuals Added to Sanctions List

The new list includes individuals from Turkey, Ecuador, and Cuba, among them:

Mehmet Acur, a Turkish national, designated as a terrorist, with reference to his affiliation with "Hezbollah".

Mehmet Akyuz, a Turkish national, designated as a terrorist, with reference to his affiliation with "Hezbollah".

Vasfi Akyuz, a Turkish national, designated as a terrorist, with reference to his affiliation with "Hezbollah".

Emrah Ayaz, a Turkish national, designated as a terrorist, with reference to his affiliation with "Hezbollah".

Onder Dede, a Turkish national, designated as a terrorist, with reference to his affiliation with "Quds Force" of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Halil Ibrahim Kacmaz, a Turkish national, designated as a terrorist, with reference to his affiliation with "Quds Force".

Feyyad Karasalih, Turkish, with reference to his affiliation with "Hezbollah".

Masoud Mousafar, Iranian national, residing in Turkey, with reference to his affiliation with "Hezbollah".

Gulay Kaya Savci, a Turkish national, with reference to her affiliation with "Hezbollah".

Yunus Alper Yilmaz, Turkish, with reference to his affiliation with "Quds Force".

Additionally, Jamie Leonidas Alarcon Holguin and several other individuals from Ecuador were added due to drug-related designations, while several officials or individuals linked to Cuba were added to the Cuba-specific sanctions list.

New Entities Added to Sanctions List

OFAC also added several entities to the sanctions list, including companies based in Cuba and Ecuador.

The list included fishing and trading companies in Ecuador’s Manabí region, such as ALHO FISH S.A., ARCASDENOE S.A., GLOBALDISTRIAL S.A.S., JAH-HMH S.A.S., NEGOCIOS JIMAR S.A.S., PROYECTOS NEYZOA S.A.S., and SOISAMAR S.A.S.

In Cuba, the list included government agencies and companies, such as the Cuban Ministry of Construction, ACINOX COMERCIAL, CORATUR S.A., TRANSIMPORT, CONSUMIMPORT, METALCUBA, and other entities.

10 Ecuadorian Vessels Added to Sanctions List

The U.S. Department of the Treasury also added 10 vessels flying the flag of Ecuador to the sanctions list, namely:

ARCA DE NOE III, ARCA DE NOE III JR, ARCA DE NOE IV, ARCA DE NOE V, CONQUISTA, COSTA MARLIN, REY DE ARCA, SIEMPRE MI ARCA, SOLO ES MEJOR, TODOS VUELVEN.

The department noted these vessels are linked to individuals and entities already listed, under designations related to drug trafficking crimes.