U.S. issues document to private sector about compliance with sanctions regimes

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of State, Office of Foreign Assets Control, and U.S. Coast Guard issued a global document to alert maritime trade actors and the energy and mineral sectors about deceptive shipping practices used to evade sanction with a focus on Iran, North Korea, and Syria.

The document contains instructions to private companies on preventing criminal evasion, smuggling and criminal activity, and the facilitation of terrorist practices.

The document also concerned methods of evasion of sanctions and ways to prevent them, calling on U.S. and foreign actors working with the United States to review their practices and ensure that they comply with U.S. sanctions against the countries mentioned.

It highlighted the importance of private sector companies properly assessing the risks of sanctions and urged them to take the step necessary to comply with established sanction regimes.