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Bradley T. Smith

Bradley T. Smith

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

Appears in 2 stories

Stories

Washington keeps two quiet Russia loopholes open: Japan’s Sakhalin-2 oil and the nuclear fuel money pipe

Rule Changes

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) - Signed the December 17, 2025 general licenses extending Sakhalin-2 and civil nuclear authorizations

Sanctions are supposed to close doors. On December 17, the U.S. quietly propped two doors back open—again—even as it slammed others shut. One narrow lane keeps Sakhalin-2 crude flowing to Japan. The other preserves financial channels for civil nuclear projects, even when payments touch sanctioned Russian banks. Both carve-outs now run through June 18, 2026.

Updated Jan 30

Treasury targets 29 Iran “shadow fleet” ships, turning tanker logistics into a sanctions minefield

Force in Play

Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) - Signed the time-limited General License S tied to the December 18 designations

Treasury just hit Iran’s oil-smuggling “shadow fleet” where it actually hurts: the ships. On December 18, 2025, OFAC blocked 29 vessels and a web of managers and front-company operators that keep Iranian oil moving when the paperwork is fake and the GPS goes dark.

Updated Dec 18, 2025