The bank-to-bank transfer using the SWIFT system was symbolically important, indicating the war-torn country was reintegrating into the global financial community.
Category: Embargoes and Sanctions
At G7, Trump Renews Embrace of Putin Amid Rift With Allies
President Trump opened his remarks at the Group of 7 gathering of industrialized nations by criticizing the decision to expel Russia from the bloc after Moscow’s 2014 “annexation” of Crimea.
France’s Macron Faces Dilemma With Intention to Recognize Palestinian State
The French-Israeli relationship has always been turbulent, but the prospect that President Emmanuel Macron may recognize a Palestinian state has brought tension to a new level.
At a Weak Moment, Iran Weighs Difficult Options to Respond to Israel
An aggressive response to Israel’s attacks risks escalation. But giving in to U.S. and Israeli demands is an unlikely alternative.
Oil Prices Surge and Stock Markets Stumble After Israel Strikes Iran
The military strikes jolted investors, raising concerns that a broader Mideast conflict would disrupt the world’s energy supplies.
How Washington Has Tried to Control China’s Tech
Under three presidential administrations, officials in Washington have used export controls to hold back China’s access to advanced technology.
China Walks a Line in U.S. Trade Talks, Trying Not to Overplay Its Hand
China has leverage it can use by limiting access to its rare earth supplies, but it does not want to sacrifice its reputation as a reliable supplier.
Rubio Is Pressing to Open Sanctions Investigation Into Harvard
Experts and former officials said it was unusual for a cabinet secretary to try to influence the Treasury Department’s sanctions process to target a domestic entity.
U.K., Canada, Australia and Others Impose Sanctions on Far-Right Israeli Ministers
The coordinated move highlights the hardening of several countries’ stance toward Israel amid the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
European Union Unveils Fresh Sanctions on Russia, Including a Nord Stream Ban
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, announced a proposal meant to ramp up pressure on Moscow.
Israel Vows to Stop Aid Ship With Greta Thunberg Aboard From Reaching Gaza
The attempt to block the flotilla carrying the famed climate activist comes 15 years after a similar aid effort ended in deadly violence.
They Went to Syria to Fight With Rebels. Now Some Are Joining the New Army.
Thousands of foreign fighters fought alongside the Syrian rebel groups that toppled the Assad dictatorship. Many plan to stay, despite the qualms of the United States and some Syrians.
State Dept. Imposes Sanctions on International Criminal Court Judges
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the four judges were responsible for investigations of U.S. military personnel and arrest warrants against top Israeli officials.
Europe Wants to Banish Russian Gas. The U.S. May Have Other Plans.
A large Republican donor wants to buy a Russian pipeline to Germany. The White House has entertained the idea of working with the Kremlin to supply Russian gas to Europe.
U.S. Dependence on China for Rare Earth Magnets Is Causing Shortages
The United States allowed its rare earth metals industry to move to China and could now face severe economic disruption as China limits crucial supplies.
New U.S. Envoy Makes First and Symbolic Trip to Syria
Thomas Barrack raised the American flag over the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Damascus, amid broader efforts by the Trump administration to improve ties.
Russia Appears to Launch New Offensive in Ukraine Amid Peace Talks
Moscow’s dual campaign of intensified frontline attacks and bombardment of Ukrainian cities has further reduced the prospects for an end to the fighting.
Export Controls Are Endangering the Fragile U.S.-China Truce
Just two-and-a-half weeks after agreeing to suspend tariffs, both countries are using export controls to disrupt each other’s key industries.
UK Weighs Sanctions on 2 Israeli Ministers as Gaza Crisis Worsens
Facing rising pressure over the acute suffering of civilians in Gaza, the British government is considering sanctions on two far-right ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
U.S. to Impose Sanctions on Sudan Over Use of Chemical Weapons
The State Department’s announcement comes months after U.S. officials found evidence that Sudan’s military had used chemical weapons against its paramilitary rival.
E.U. to Lift Economic Sanctions on Syria
European Union foreign ministers on Tuesday agreed to lift the remaining economic curbs on the war-torn country, amid concerns it could slip back into conflict.
EU Plans New Sanctions on Russia in Push for Ukraine Cease-fire
The European Union has now targeted Moscow’s fleet of covert oil tankers and plans more restrictions, as the Trump administration’s approach to the war shifts.
Trump Shrugs Off Netanyahu on Gulf Tour
On Iran, Gaza, Syria and Yemen, President Trump is moving ahead without Israel, reshaping decades of foreign policy.
‘A Slap in the Face’: Iranians Watched Trump’s Mideast Tour With Envy
For some, President Trump’s visits to Arab nations, Iran’s regional rivals, only made their country’s acute energy and economic crises harder to bear.
Trump Wants an Iran Deal, but It May Be Weaker Than His Supporters Demand
Iran rejects any deal that would ban it from any nuclear enrichment, long a demand of U.S. conservatives.
Gunfire in Gaza as Israel Says Its Troops Are Mobilizing
The shots were heard in central Gaza early Saturday, hours after the Israeli military said its troops were preparing for a major advance into the territory.
Gulf States Pay Off $15.5 Million Syrian Debt to World Bank
The move was the latest victory for Syria’s new government as it attempts to stabilize the nation after a long civil war and decades of dictatorship.
Trump Wraps Up Middle East Tour Full of Lavish Receptions and Business Deals
President Trump’s four-day trip yielded a remarkable turnabout with Syria and announcements of multibillion-dollar deals for U.S. companies.
Marco Rubio Meets Syria’s Foreign Minister, in Another Sign of Warming Ties
The meeting came days after President Trump announced he would end sanctions against Syria and met with the country’s president, a former jihadist.
Vengeful at Home, Trump Takes His Forgiving Side on Middle East Tour
During the first major foreign trip of his second term, President Trump has told audiences in the Middle East that he’s willing to set the past aside in the interests of peace and profit.
Will Putin Attend Ukraine Peace Talks in Turkey? Kremlin’s List Indicates Not.
A hard-line aide to the Russian president will instead lead the delegation, according to a Kremlin statement.
Trump Meets Ahmed al-Shara After Vowing to Lift Sanctions on Syria
“The sanctions were really crippling,” President Trump said, before he traveled to Qatar, where he was given a lavish welcome.
Taking Inches in Battle, Russia Demands Miles in Talks
Moscow thinks it’s winning in Ukraine and can play hardball diplomatically. Washington sees costly, incremental gains and an unrealistic negotiating position.
Trump to Lift Sanctions on Syria, Meet with New President
Syria’s new leaders and their allies in the Arab world have argued that the sanctions, meant to punish the Assad regime that was toppled in December, have outlived their purpose.
E.U. Leaders Demand Russia Accept Ukraine Cease-fire by End of Day
The Kremlin brushed off the threat of further sanctions, saying that “the language of ultimatums is unacceptable.”
