sanctions news stories on Newser

Obama: Use Tech to Abuse Rebels, We'll Sanction You

Mark Russell — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:23:22 CDT

If you use technology to help a repressive regime commit human rights abuses, you'll find yourself slapped with US sanctions. That's the message from President Obama, who this morning announced a new executive order specifically targeting those backing Iran and Syria via technology, though it could be expanded to other...

Cameron Meets Suu Kyi, Seeks End of Sanctions

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:42:36 CDT

David Cameron says he will support suspending the European Union's economic sanctions on Burma, which are to be reviewed by the end of the month. The British prime minister spoke after meetings with the country's reform-minded president, Thein Sein, and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was recently elected...

Obama Clears Way for Sanctions on Iran

Dustin Lushing — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:42:49 CDT

President Obama today greenlighted sanctions designed to choke Iran's oil industry and pressure Tehran into giving up its nuclear ambitions. The decision comes after the White House established that there's enough crude oil in world markets to keep American allies steady if they reduce imports from Iran, reports AP .

Syria Sells Oil to China—Thanks to Iran

Mark Russell — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:17:06 CDT

With the West united against the Syrian government and implementing a series of punishing sanctions, it's Iran and China to the rescue—as Chinese state-run firm Zhuhai Zhenrong bought an estimated $84 million in crude oil, and Iran supplied the boat to transport it, reports Reuters . The Malta-flagged vessel MT...

Syria: 89% Approved New Constitution

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:46:31 CST

Syria's new constitution was backed by more than 89% of voters, the nation's Interior Ministry announced today, even as violence continues to rage across the country and the West decries the referendum as a sham . The Interior Ministry claims that more than 57% of Syria's 14 million eligible voters turned...

Iran Cuts Oil to UK, France

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:03:04 CST

Iran has halted oil shipments to Britain and France, the Oil Ministry said today, in an apparent pre-emptive blow against the European Union's sanctions on Iran's oil exports. The EU imposed tough sanctions against Iran last month, which included a freeze of the country's central bank assets and an oil...

Iran Helping Syria Skirt Sanctions

Kevin Spak — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:17:56 CST

Iran is quietly helping Syria evade US and European Union sanctions by selling its oil on the international market, US officials have discovered. Transit records show that one shipment last month saw more than 91000 metric tons of crude sent to Iran, the Wall Street Journal reports. An Iranian spokesman...

Amid Sanctions, Iranians Expect War

Kevin Spak — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 11:29:57 CST

Western officials are fairly sanguine that Iran's recent provocations are only posturing. But on the streets of Tehran, sanctions are taking a real toll, and the populace expects violence, the Washington Post reports. The country is in the midst of a currency crisis that has made prices shoot up on...

US Sanctions Batter Iran's Currency

Rob Quinn — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:53:05 CST

The latest US sanctions against Iran have left Iranians scrambling for American dollars. President Obama has signed a bill placing Iran's central bank under sanctions, a move that sent Iran's currency tumbling 12% to a record low against the dollar. The rial has now lost 35% of its value since...