The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 11, which authorizes certain transactions with FAU Glavgosekspertiza Rossii ordinarily incident and necessary to requesting, contracting for, paying for, receiving or utilizing a project design review or permit from the company's office(s) in Russia, not including Crimea, OFAC said (here). The state-run entity is authorized to conduct official examinations of project documentation for significant construction in Russia. In other action, OFAC added seven individuals, eight entities and two vessels to the Specially Designated Nationals list, under Russia/Ukraine designations, the agency said. OFAC also added 26 entities to its Sectoral Sanctions Identifications List under Russia/Ukraine designations. A State Department spokesman on Dec. 20 said the sanctions reflect Russia's support for separatists in Ukraine, and violation of Ukrainian territorial integrity and sovereignty (here). The State spokesman said he hopes the next administration will continue the sanctions, highlighting recent events in Ukraine. Considering "the recent violence ... in eastern Ukraine just over the last couple of days, we would hope that they would see the wisdom in keeping these sanctions and this pressure on Russia, because we have seen it have an effect," he said. "But obviously, these are decisions they have to make and we also respect that process as well."

The Office of Foreign Assets Control amended General License 1 -- which allows U.S. companies to provide goods or services to the official mission of the North Korean government to the United Nations -- to generally deny U.S. financial institutions the ability to open and operate accounts for the diplomatic mission of North Korea, its employees and their families, OFAC said (here). New General License 1-A requires that fund transfers to or from the mission or its employees be conducted through an account at a specifically licensed U.S. financial institution.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License J-1, which authorizes the re-exportation of eligible civil aircraft involving code-sharing arrangements to Iran on temporary sojourn and related transactions, OFAC said (here). This license supersedes General License J. OFAC also updated related to the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Iran under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry on Dec. 15 renewed the U.S.' waiver of sanctions on Iran under the JCPOA, according to a statement (here).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control added one individual and two entities to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under counterterrorism designations, OFAC said (here).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control added two individuals to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under Democratic Republic of the Congo designations, OFAC said (here).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control added two individuals and one entity to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under counterterrorism designations, OFAC said (here).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control added seven individuals, 16 entities and 16 aircraft to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, under North Korea and nonproliferation designations, OFAC said (here). The additions follow the UN Security Council's Nov. 30 passage of more sanctions on the country, which imposes a "hard, binding cap" cutting North Korea's coal exports by more than 60 percent, and banning its export of copper, nickel, silver and zinc, a State Department spokesman said (here). "These exports have provided tens of millions of dollars to the regime annually," the spokesman said, adding that it is his understanding that China agreed with the sanctions.

The Treasury Department is issuing a current list (here) of countries that require or may require participation in, or cooperation with, an international boycott. The list includes Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control removed eight individuals and four entities from its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list under Kingpin Act designations, and updated two individuals and one entity on the list under Kingpin Act designations, OFAC said (here).

The Office of Foreign Assets Control removed one individual from the list of Specially Designated Nationals under Zimbabwe designations, OFAC said (here).