The United States, on 30 July, announced sweeping sanctions on more than 115 individuals, entities, and vessels tied to Iran, weeks after bombing key nuclear sites, as part of its intensifying pressure campaign on Tehran.
The latest sanctions, described by the Treasury Department as the most significant since 2018, focus heavily on the shipping empire of Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, the son of Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to US officials, Shamkhani operates a vast web of container ships and oil tankers through intermediaries, enabling the export of Iranian and Russian oil while generating billions in profits for the regime.
Treasury accused Shamkhani of exploiting personal ties and systemic corruption within Tehran to prop up the Islamic Republic and its regional activities. His network allegedly spans 17 countries, including Italy, Panama, and Hong Kong.
In total, Washington blacklisted 15 shipping firms, 52 vessels, 12 individuals, and 53 entities. A senior US official noted the action was calibrated to avoid disrupting global oil markets, saying it targets specific actors involved in sanctions evasion.
Although the sanctions will affect both Iran and Russia, the US stressed the move was primarily aimed at Tehran, citing Shamkhani’s direct ties to the Supreme Leader and his family’s prior involvement in sanctions breaches.
The European Union had already sanctioned Shamkhani earlier in July for his role in facilitating Russian oil exports. His father, Ali Shamkhani, was sanctioned by the US in 2020.
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Pakistan has indicated its openness to forming a regional bloc with Bangladesh without including India. The statement from Islamabad follows comments by Bangladesh’s top foreign affairs adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, that such an arrangement is strategically possible without India.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Turkmenistan on 11–12 December to attend the International Peace and Security Forum in Ashgabat.
The South Caucasus is witnessing a notable recalibration of geopolitical alignments, with Azerbaijan and Armenia both pursuing strategic partnerships with global powers, including the United States and China.
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Pakistan has indicated its openness to forming a regional bloc with Bangladesh without including India. The statement from Islamabad follows comments by Bangladesh’s top foreign affairs adviser, Md Touhid Hossain, that such an arrangement is strategically possible without India.
President Javier Milei has introduced a new labour reform proposal to Argentina’s Congress, aiming to address what his administration describes as a "rigid structure" that has hindered job creation in the country.
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