Sam Morris

Partner, RSB International, Strategic Consultancy | Tweeting mostly on the Middle East/Sanctions/Investigations

[Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project @OCCRP]

Being able to look up a company’s ultimate beneficial owner (UBO) is an essential tool for investigative journalism. It can help reveal unexplained wealth, unearth evidence of crimes, and help hold corrupt actors to account. But in recent years, access has shrunk.

Following a controversial 2022 court decision, many EU countries closed their UBO registries to the public, now requiring applicants to prove a “legitimate interest” in the information.

Learn more about why this happened, what this data can do, and what the prospects are for better access in the future: https://t.co/e2janXdvRi

[New Lines Magazine @newlinesmag]

NEW: Iranian Kurdish militias in the mountains of Iraq see a unique opportunity. But without air cover, political guarantees and reliable backers, the peshmerga aren't crossing the border yet. @LovedayM reports from the Zagros Mountains for @newlinesmag. https://t.co/5FNxRpHyIn

[POLITICOEurope @POLITICOEurope]

Britain has announced the largest package of sanctions against Russia since the early days of the Ukraine war to mark four years since the full-scale invasion.
https://t.co/KyKQ1Anq4F

[Eric Martin @EMPosts]

SCOOP: The US government is preparing to issue a general license allowing companies to pump oil in #Venezuela -- with sources telling us the issuance could come as soon as this week.

@GaripPatricia @estebanduarte4 @jendlouhyhc

https://t.co/Y6aMVIEO9T

[Treasury Department @USTreasury]

Today, in its largest Iran-related action since 2018, Treasury is sanctioning more than 115 individuals, entities, and vessels that make up a vast shipping empire controlled by Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of a top political advisor to the Supreme Leader.

This network transports oil and petroleum products from Iran and Russia, as well as other cargo, to buyers around the world, generating tens of billions of dollars in profit.

[Javier Blas @JavierBlas]

“Oil sanctions have failed to deliver results with Iran and Russia […] Rather than change state behavior, sanctions change markets and reshape economic relationships, redirecting oil into channels built around geopolitics.”

@gbrew24 is spot on.
https://t.co/2lUffLQFSJ

[Chatham House @ChathamHouse]

Thread 🧵

Sanctions are a key instrument of foreign policy but there are concerns about the efficacy, enforcement and unintended consequences of sanctions.

@ChrisSabatini (@CH_Americas) explains how sanctions fail, and how they can be fixed.

[1/11]⤵️
https://t.co/5DAzCDWi4Z

[U.S. Embassy Beirut @usembassybeirut]

The United States sanctioned seven senior officials and one entity linked to Al-Qard Al-Hassan (AQAH), a Hizballah-controlled financial institution.

https://t.co/wjcmaU71GX

[U.S. State Dept - Near Eastern Affairs @StateDept_NEA]

Treasury Implements President’s Termination of Syria Sanctions

https://t.co/J4shrjQj7M

[Senate Foreign Relations Committee @SFRCdems]

"I'm proud to introduce a repeal of the Caesar Act and will work to repeal other sanctions on Syria. We have other tools to hold the Syrians accountable, as shown by @USAMBTurkiye. We must support their hopes for democracy and security." -@SenatorShaheen ⬇️https://t.co/EHC98ycYu4

[RUSI @RUSI_org]

Operation Rising Lion has showcased Israel's conventional superiority over Iran, highlighting the importance of intelligence, surprise, and strong air and missile defence. But for now, the impact on Iran’s nuclear programme is more uncertain, write @MTSavill and @DDolzikova.

[Sam Morris @morrissammo]

IRGC leadership would play the principal role in any war footing. Israel is eliminating those structures.

[Fazel Hawramy @FazelHawramy]

Tabriz and Qom have been struck too

Iran TV has confirmed death of IRGC chief Hossein Salami - Entekhab

[Javier Blas @JavierBlas]

London-listed commodity trader Glencore uses one of its Swiss registered trade desks to buy Russian copper that's under British sanctions.

(Yup, Glencore is happy to list on the London Stock Exchange, but will bypass the UK government rules on Russia by claiming it's Swiss)

[U.S. Central Command @CENTCOM]

Today, the United States is sanctioning over 35 individuals and entities with ties to a network involved in money laundering on behalf of the Iranian regime. The United States will continue to deny Iran access to financial networks and the global banking system as long as Iran continues its destabilizing activities.
https://t.co/aTCCk3sofT

[Oil by S&P Global Energy @SPGEnergyOil]

US has broad options to squeeze #Russianoil sector if #peacetalks fail: experts

🔹US could target shadow fleet, oil and gas majors
🔹Peace talks in Istanbul could be tipping point
🔹Urals crude averaging at $50.63/b so far in May

Full story here 💻 https://t.co/vWr6dYAIAY

#oil #crude #fuels #PeaceDeal

[Oil by S&P Global Energy @SPGEnergyOil]

#USsanctions may cut Iranian crude imports by #China’s independent refineries in April

▪️#Iraniancrude intake hits record 1.91 million b/d in March
▪️Momentum could slow in April on tougher sanctions
▪️Private terminals continue to receive sanctioned ships

Read 🔗https://t.co/lALFEfoI9v

#OOTT #Oil #US

[Oil by S&P Global Energy @SPGEnergyOil]

Vitol CEO sees Russian #sanctions lasting ‘another 1-2 years’

▪️#EU sanctions may take years to unwind
▪️Mercuria, Trafigura ready to return after rollbacks
▪️Mixed political appetite to keep sanctions in #Europe

Read 🔗https://t.co/1k27vUjLqC

#OOTT

[ICIJ @ICIJorg]

Documents from a European Union naval mission leaked to ICIJ show how Russia’s “ghost fleet” of aging commercial vessels employed a range of tricks to avoid detection as they shipped Russian equipment to Libya.

Read the story: https://t.co/FtEomVWvEN

[Eddie Fishman @edwardfishman]

Why have sanctions on Russia disappointed? It's a tragic story spanning four presidents—where defeat was repeatedly snatched from the jaws of victory.

Excited to share the first adapted essay from "Chokepoints"—out tomorrow!—in @TheAtlantic https://t.co/lQCecC2mFk

[Javier Blas @JavierBlas]

OIL MAKRET: US President to issue a directive to enforce existing sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

China buys 90% of the oil that Tehran exports, so, I see this as is very much part of the wider US-China trade negotiations | #OOTT