On 15 October 2026, the UK introduced an expanded human rights sanctions regime, via the UK’s new Global Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Sanctions Regulations 2026 (the “2026 Regulations”). The 2026 Regulations revoke and replace the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 (the “2020 Regulations”). These reforms notably enable the UK to impose sanctions for serious violations of international humanitarian law, as well as for obstructions of humanitarian assistance and conduct that seriously violates…
On 29 September 2026, a range of new and expanded UK sanctions targeting Iran entered into force, following the publication on 8 September 2026 of the Iran (Sanctions) (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (the “Regulations”). The Regulations amend both the Iran (Sanctions) Regulations 2023, which principally address human rights abuses and hostile activity by Iran, and the Iran (Sanctions) (Nuclear) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, which seek to restrict Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons and implement certain…
On 9 June 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Commission is preparing a 21st sanctions package against Russia, marking a further step in the EU’s ongoing effort to intensify economic pressure following Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine. The proposed measures focus on high-impact sectors, including energy, financial services (including crypto-assets) and trade restrictions. Key Elements of the Proposed 21st Package Energy and Transport: Expanded Targeting of the Shadow Fleet…
Spain’s Secretaría General de Comercio (General Secretariat for Trade) recently held an informational briefing outlining significant developments in the country’s export control framework. The session addressed both recently implemented measures and upcoming regulatory changes that are expected to reshape the way companies engage with the Spanish licensing system. The briefing also addressed a number of practical issues of relevance to operators, including the treatment of technology transfers in cloud environments and the handling of re-export obligations,…