The Japanese government approved the removal of sanctions on 16 organizations connected to Syria, signaling support for the government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The decision follows Japan's lifting of sanctions on four Syrian entities in May 2025, with the original measures imposed in 2011 against the Assad regime.
Medication prices are surging in Iran and some treatments have become difficult to find as a US blockade and intensified sanctions squeeze the country's pharmaceutical industry. Iranians are stocking up on food and medicines amid fears of dire shortages, with families struggling to afford essential medications.
Four major Iraqi airports including Baghdad, Najaf, Erbil, and Sulaimaniyah have halted all flights to and from Iran in response to expanded US sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector. Iran warned that flight in the region must be "free for all, or for no one," while Iraq seeks exemptions from the sanctions.
US and Iranian officials held three hours of face-to-face negotiations in New York, the first such talks since June, occurring on the same day President Donald Trump told the UN General Assembly he could 'annihilate' Iran if the conflict went unresolved. Iran reportedly hardened its terms for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, demanding a ceasefire tied to lifting Yemen blockades and immediate release of $24 billion in frozen funds.
Iranian flights to Baghdad and Muscat have been canceled after the United States threatened sanctions against airports servicing Iranian airlines, part of a broader pressure campaign over the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq ordered its civil aviation authority to suspend Iranian flights starting Wednesday, while Oman also ceased accepting Iranian aircraft.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called on the United States to ease sanctions on North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang freezing its nuclear weapons programs, breaking from precedent by publicly advocating for sanctions relief over full denuclearization. Lee told The New York Times he sees "significant value" in such a trade-off under current circumstances.
President Donald Trump announced the U.S. is working on a deal to purchase potash fertilizer from Belarus at lower prices than Canada currently provides, pivoting toward a Russian ally amid deteriorating trade relations with Canada. The move has drawn criticism given Belarus's role in supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that Iranian airlines will face a global shutdown through secondary sanctions on foreign aviation service providers, threatening to cut off fuel and services at airports worldwide.
European Union envoys agreed to lift sanctions imposed over Russia's war in Ukraine on businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, as long as no EU government objects within a set timeframe. The move has drawn criticism from Ukraine and comes as part of a broader sanctions review.
The Trump administration is preparing comprehensive sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court itself, potentially disrupting payments, IT services and investigations. The move follows the ICC's arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Britain has imposed sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, following a diplomatic breakdown over construction in the E1 area. British officials claim Israel reneged on a promise to halt development in the strategically significant territory, while Israel denies making such a commitment.
The United States has lifted sanctions targeting Eritrea's ruling party and military that were imposed during the Biden administration, ending a five-year national emergency over the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia. The State Department cited advancing US regional interests in the Red Sea as a reason for the decision.
Iranians are experiencing severe shortages of essential medications including insulin as the ongoing US-Israeli war against Iran disrupts medical supply chains. The crisis is forcing ordinary citizens to bear the humanitarian cost of the conflict.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Ankara and Washington are developing creative solutions to lift US sanctions imposed on Turkey over its purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems. The discussions represent a potential breakthrough in a longstanding dispute between the NATO allies.
The United States has lifted sanctions on Eritrea's Defense Forces, ruling party, and other entities by allowing its five-year national emergency over the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia to lapse. The Treasury Department formally removed the designations on September 18, 2026.
The US Treasury sanctioned Iranian cryptocurrency exchange BitBank, accusing it of processing hundreds of millions of dollars in bitcoin for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and facilitating payments for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree placing the Russian subsidiaries of Swiss food giant Nestlé and French retailers Auchan and Leroy Merlin under temporary state administration, the latest move against Western companies operating in Russia.
Russia is using as many as 25,000 North Korean workers to assemble Iranian-designed drones for its war in Ukraine, with some disguised as students according to a UN sanctions watchdog. The practice violates 2017 UN Security Council resolutions that prohibit North Koreans from earning income in other countries.
The Trump administration has approved visas allowing top Iranian officials, including the president and foreign minister, to attend next week's United Nations General Assembly in New York, even as the two countries remain at war. Iran's delegation will face restrictions including limits on travel and luxury goods purchases.
The US Congress has passed sweeping sanctions legislation targeting Russia's energy sector and authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including China and India. The bill, named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, now awaits President Trump's signature.
Poland's state energy company Orlen lost up to $424 million after a $230 million USDT cryptocurrency payment for discounted Venezuelan crude oil disappeared following a covert deal that began in late 2023. The payment vanished on USB drives in a collapsed transaction.
All 3,000 EU sanctions against individuals helping Russia's war effort could expire by September 21 if no compromise is reached, as France seeks to lift sanctions on Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov under pressure from Azerbaijan. The dispute coincides with Russia opening new legal challenges over frozen assets and the U.S. expanding sanctions related to deported Ukrainian children.
Belarus released 25 political prisoners following negotiations with President Trump's special envoy John Coale, who met with authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. The US lifted some sanctions in return, continuing a series of prisoner-for-sanctions deals since Trump's second term began.
President Trump signed the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, authorizing tariffs up to 100% on countries purchasing Russian oil. India warned the measures could damage bilateral ties and vowed to protect its energy security.
The UN Security Council unanimously voted to extend the current arms embargo on Sudan's Darfur region for one month while negotiations continue on a contentious US proposal to expand the embargo nationwide. Sudan's UN ambassador argued that a total arms embargo would violate the UN Charter's guarantee of countries' right to self-defense.
The House of Representatives will vote next week on a sweeping Russia sanctions bill that passed the Senate 86-11 in August. The legislation, named after the late Senator Lindsey Graham, would impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries buying Russian oil and gas, but faces uncertain prospects in the House despite strong Senate support.
Britain announced sanctions banning imports of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, with reports indicating the measures also cover occupied East Jerusalem and Syria's Golan Heights. The scope of sanctions could expand or narrow based on actions of Israel's next government.
Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies is standing trial in Brooklyn federal court on criminal charges including racketeering and defrauding banks over its business dealings with Iran. The case, originally brought during the first Trump administration, comes to trial after nearly a decade of legal proceedings, just weeks before a scheduled meeting between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Britain, France, Canada and nine other countries announced coordinated sanctions banning imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband accusing Israel of turning a 'blind eye' to ethnic cleansing by settlers. Israel responded by announcing it would close the British Consulate in East Jerusalem.
Despite the Trump administration's efforts to isolate Iran from the global financial system, approximately $9 billion in suspected Iranian funds have passed through U.S. correspondent bank accounts, exposing a significant weakness in the sanctions regime. The administration has responded with sweeping new sanctions against all Iranian airlines and foreign companies doing business with Iran.
Argentine President Javier Milei announced plans to sanction oil companies operating near the Falkland Islands, intensifying the sovereignty dispute with Britain. The move comes days after President Donald Trump cast doubt on whether the United States would support the United Kingdom in the territorial conflict.
Argentine President Javier Milei announced plans to impose sanctions on companies involved in oil projects near the Falkland Islands and boost defense resources in the contested region. The move comes as Trump suggested the US may not support the UK in a future Falklands conflict.
Norwegian authorities seized the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov in Svalbard on September 2, 2026, at the request of Ukraine's Naftogaz. The seizure is part of a global effort to enforce a $4.22 billion arbitration award over Ukrainian assets Russia appropriated following its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Norwegian authorities seized the Russian vessel Professor Molchanov in the Arctic to enforce a $4.22 billion arbitration award won by Ukraine's Naftogaz over assets seized when Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Russia called the action 'piracy.'
Russian missile specialists have been working with Iran on a covert program codenamed C430L since 2023 to develop supersonic cruise missiles capable of targeting US warships and aircraft carriers in the Middle East. The program was arranged by Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport in coordination with the US-sanctioned NPO Mashinostroyenia.
The SCO issued its first dedicated declaration on nuclear safety and security at its Bishkek summit, condemning military strikes on Iranian territory and attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities. The joint statement, signed by member states including India, also criticized Western sanctions on Iran and other members.
Oil giant Chevron confirmed plans to invest more than $7 billion through its Venezuela joint ventures to double oil production to about 600,000 barrels per day over the next five years, following President Trump's announcement of a US-Venezuela oil deal.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent informed Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov at the G20 Finance Ministers Meeting in Asheville, North Carolina on August 31, 2026, that no economic relief or sanctions easing would be possible until Russia ends its war in Ukraine. The message crystallizes the Trump administration's strategy of maintaining economic pressure on Moscow.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov met on the sidelines of a Group of 20 gathering in North Carolina, marking the first time Siluanov traveled to the U.S. since Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Russia's first G20 participation since 2022.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the Trump administration will impose sanctions on another bank this week as part of an intensified campaign to economically isolate Iran. The move follows recent sanctions on Egyptian bank branches and comes six months into an ongoing conflict with Iran amid stalled truce negotiations.
The US Treasury imposed sanctions on Banque Misr's UAE branches, cutting the major Egyptian bank from the global financial system as part of escalating economic pressure on Iran six months into the conflict. Iran condemned the move as 'state terrorism.'
The U.S. Treasury expanded sanctions against Iran's digital asset sector on August 24, granting broader authority to target foreign entities facilitating crypto transactions, while also sanctioning four India-based companies and three Indian nationals for importing Iranian petroleum products.
The US Treasury's OFAC issued a sectoral determination allowing it to sanction any person worldwide who operates in Iran's digital asset sector, as part of Treasury Secretary Bessent's 'Operation Economic Outcast' targeting Iran's economy through crypto, gold, shipping and technology sectors.
The US Treasury Department expanded Iran sanctions to cover the country's digital asset sector, citing over $100 million in crypto payments allegedly used to facilitate Iranian oil sales as part of 'Operation Economic Outcast.'
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new wave of sanctions aimed at Iran's use of cryptocurrency and international networks to circumvent existing US economic restrictions. The move represents an escalation in Washington's economic campaign against Tehran, with threats of secondary sanctions on cooperating entities.
The Trump administration unveiled Operation Economic Outcast, a sweeping sanctions offensive against Iran targeting digital assets, oil, shipping, aviation, gold, and technology sectors. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned trading partners to cut ties with Iran but indicated the US would give countries time to comply before imposing secondary sanctions.
The Trump administration formally removed Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list on Monday, lifting decades-old economic sanctions following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also delisted Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham as a terrorist organization.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced what he described as the 'single greatest financial offensive ever' against Iran, threatening secondary sanctions on countries doing business with Tehran. The administration stopped short of immediately imposing penalties but warned it would target Iran's financial connections, oil revenues, and economic lifelines.
President Donald Trump has launched a new campaign to isolate Iran's economy, threatening severe economic consequences for any country doing business with Tehran. Iran condemned the planned sanctions and warned its response to new U.S. threats would be "devastating," as the USS George Washington carrier strike group arrived in the Middle East to replace the USS Abraham Lincoln.
More than 100 former French and British diplomats have issued an open letter urging French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to impose joint sanctions on Israel, including halting arms exports and banning trade with illegal settlements in the West Bank. The diplomats warn that Israeli settlement expansion and occupation policies are erasing prospects for an independent Palestinian state.
More than 100 former French and British diplomats have issued an open letter urging French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham to impose joint sanctions on Israel, including halting arms exports and banning trade with illegal settlements in the West Bank. The diplomats warn that Israeli settlement expansion and occupation policies are erasing prospects for an independent Palestinian state.
Iran denounced sweeping new U.S. economic sanctions described as 'Economic D-Day' as state terrorism, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei banning acts that could harm social cohesion amid fears of domestic unrest. Iranian officials warned that countries cooperating with the sanctions would be considered enemies and threatened to block oil shipments through the Persian Gulf.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated it is time to end the months-long conflict with the United States, claiming Iran is in a position of power and dignity. His remarks came as Washington announced plans to escalate economic sanctions and amid ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated it was time to end the months-long war with the United States, claiming Tehran is in a stronger position than Washington. This comes as the US prepares to announce what it calls the 'toughest sanctions in history' against Iran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on August 20, 2026 that the United States will impose unprecedented economic sanctions on Iran aimed at collapsing the Tehran government, warning allies and China they must choose to be "with us or against us." The announcement, which comes amid an existing naval blockade, caused oil prices to rise 2% on concerns about supply disruptions.
President Donald Trump announced tougher economic measures against Iran and any country that helps or does business with it. Iran condemned the sanctions as violating sovereignty and international law, with its Foreign Ministry spokesman calling it a return to 'full-scale classic colonialism.' Iran's security chief also threatened neighboring countries against joining the U.S. economic pressure campaign.
President Donald Trump announced what he called the "most crushing economic operation" against Iran, warning of severe economic consequences for any nation that provides support or does business with Tehran. Iran's Foreign Minister dismissed the threat as a continuation of "failed policies."
The United Arab Emirates has suspended all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran after accusing Tehran of launching ballistic missiles at UAE ships. Iran denies the allegations, calling the incident a 'false flag operation.'
The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of launching two ballistic missiles toward its territory and announced an indefinite suspension of all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran in response.
President Donald Trump stated that Iran is not prepared to make the "right deal" with Washington, as the US prepares to unveil what it describes as unprecedented economic sanctions nearly six months into an ongoing conflict. Former officials and Iran experts warn Tehran may be willing to absorb more economic pain than the administration anticipates.
The European Union intends to significantly expand sanctions against Russia in the coming months over its war in Ukraine, according to the bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The announcement comes amid ongoing Russian military operations in Ukraine.
Roman Storm, convicted co-founder of cryptocurrency privacy protocol Tornado Cash, is challenging his conviction by arguing that Google and OpenAI should face similar liability since their AI tools are also used by the same North Korean operatives cited in the government's case against him.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the U.S. will impose economic measures on Iran that have "never been seen" as soon as next week, as President Donald Trump vows to intensify economic pressure on Tehran. Trump has asked Americans to accept higher gas prices as necessary costs of the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Venezuela has signed its first oil production contracts with US companies including Hunt Oil and SLB since the US captured Nicolás Maduro in January, while BP secured rights to develop an offshore gasfield. The deals mark significant progress in the Trump administration's push to rebuild Venezuela's energy sector, with oil flows to US refineries quadrupling to 500,000 barrels per day since 2025.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the U.S. will roll out what he called unprecedented economic measures against Iran next week, intensifying the Trump administration's effort to force Tehran's capitulation as military operations continue.
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia will seize European merchant vessels if European countries continue targeting Russian ships, with the Pacific Fleet commander stating forces are ready to inspect and detain vessels from hostile states. Putin made the threat while speaking aboard a Russian warship.
Canada imposed sanctions on UAE-based Streit Group, a Canadian-owned armored vehicle manufacturer, for supplying military equipment to Russia's National Guard used in the war against Ukraine. The sanctions complete a four-nation effort alongside Ukraine, the EU, and Switzerland.
Austrian authorities dismantled an international network in which a Vienna-based company supplied equipment for Russian missile and fighter jet engines through shell companies across multiple countries, violating EU sanctions. The scheme used intermediaries in Turkey, UAE, Hong Kong, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Poland, Lithuania, and Spain to circumvent sanctions imposed in 2022.
President Trump announced he will rely primarily on sanctions and naval blockade rather than military strikes to pressure Iran, as negotiations over reopening the Strait of Hormuz remain stalled. Trump also demanded Iran pay compensation for decades of alleged attacks on US forces.
The U.S. government has sold two sanctioned oil tankers, seized following a military raid in Venezuela in January, to Dubai-based Global Marketing Systems for scrapping. The vessels, identified as Era and Lileo (previously known as Bella 1/Marinera), will be dismantled at metal recycling facilities in India.
A UK-sanctioned tanker carrying nearly 1 million barrels of oil has become further submerged off Oman's coast after being grounded for several weeks, with the oil spill expanding to over 232 square miles and threatening the Hallaniyat Islands marine protected area and endangered wildlife.
Iran has issued steep demands including US compensation and sanctions relief as conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to derail a potential deal with Oman despite earlier optimism. The standoff has pushed oil prices above $83 per barrel and drawn sharp responses from President Trump.
Iran announced that negotiations with Oman on new shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz are in final stages, but insisted the waterway will not reopen until the U.S. provides compensation, lifts sanctions, and meets other demands. The announcement came as the UAE reported an Iranian missile strike on one of its ships in the strait.
Following U.S. warnings, Ukraine has agreed not to target certain non-Russian oil tankers and Black Sea infrastructure critical for Kazakhstan's crude oil exports, including the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal. The agreement comes after Ukrainian strikes in July halted loadings and disrupted energy supplies to Europe.
The Senate overwhelmingly approved sweeping Russian sanctions legislation Friday that would allow President Trump to impose 100% tariffs on the world's top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China. The bill, championed by Sen. Lindsey Graham before his unexpected death in July, now heads to the House of Representatives.
The Senate overwhelmingly approved sweeping Russian sanctions legislation Friday that would allow President Trump to impose 100% tariffs on the world's top five purchasers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China. The bill, championed by Sen. Lindsey Graham before his unexpected death in July, now heads to the House of Representatives.
Britain announced a fresh package of sanctions on August 6, 2026, targeting six Russian banks, six shadow fleet tankers, and rare metals importers in an effort to disrupt oil revenues and financial networks funding Russia's war in Ukraine. The measures add 19 new entries to the UK's Russia sanctions list.
Iran's parliament is considering legislation that would prohibit vessels linked to the United States, Israel, and other "hostile countries" from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, while imposing fines of up to 20% of cargo value on violators. The Trump administration has rejected the proposed restrictions on the strategic waterway through which significant global oil traffic passes.
President Donald Trump told Axios the US is "only semi-negotiating" with Iran and instead watching economic pressure take effect through inflation and financial strain, as the conflict approaches six months. The shift comes as Iran issued new demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz while Trump countered by demanding Iran pay compensation for casualties.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on August 6, 2026, targeting five Cuban entities and eight individuals accused of procuring military equipment from China and Russia, including Cuba's senior military representative in Beijing.
The U.S. Treasury Department removed counter-terrorism sanctions from Iraq's Fly Baghdad Airlines and two of its aircraft that were imposed in 2024 over alleged links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, citing changes in the airline's behavior. The airline's owner, Basheer Al-Shabbani, remains under active U.S. sanctions.
The European Union received €1.4 billion ($1.6 billion) in windfall profits generated from interest on immobilized Russian Central Bank assets held in EU depositories, with the funds earmarked for Ukraine's defense and reconstruction. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Russia must pay for the destruction it has caused.
China's Commerce Ministry announced retaliatory measures against seven US entities, imposed stricter export controls on drones and related technology bound for the US, and restricted US agencies' role in Chinese factory inspections. The actions come in response to recent US moves targeting Chinese companies and ahead of a scheduled visit by President Xi Jinping to meet President Trump.
Damascus has committed to significantly reducing imports of Russian crude oil as part of ongoing discussions with Washington over lifting Syria's State Sponsor of Terrorism designation. Russian oil shipments to Syria had jumped 75% to approximately 60,000 barrels per day this year before the agreement.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree on August 3, 2026, imposing sanctions on 23 companies and 20 individuals connected to Russia's defense industry, targeting suppliers of components for ballistic weapons production. The sanctions list includes one Ukrainian-registered company.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine will seek to generate sufficient diplomatic, economic, and military pressure on Moscow to end the war before winter 2026 begins. The announcement comes amid continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure, including oil refineries and warehouses.
An EU naval mission led by Italy boarded a tanker from Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' in international waters off Pantelleria, between Sicily and Tunisia, marking the second such operation in less than two weeks. The operation was conducted with support from Greek and Polish forces as part of arms and oil trafficking monitoring efforts.
The Bank of Russia has published draft regulations to establish organized cryptocurrency markets by extending existing securities market rules to digital assets, a move that follows fresh Western sanctions against the country.
The US Senate advanced sweeping sanctions legislation targeting Russia's energy revenues as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Washington. The bill, championed by the late Senator Lindsey Graham who died earlier this month, cleared its first procedural hurdle.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced the United States for what he called 'genocidal' practices and accused Washington of seeking to seize control of the island, as Cuba endures severe economic hardship from a US oil embargo imposed in January 2026 and additional sanctions.
