Economic sanctions

June 9, 2026 | Jack Burnham, Daniel Swift

Updated Pentagon List Targets China’s Military-Civil Fusion Program

The Pentagon just fired a warning shot at Beijing — and Wall Street. On June 8, the Pentagon released its updated Section 1260H list, which designates Chinese companies as supporting Beijing’s military-civil...

June 5, 2026 | Saeed Ghasseminejad, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Trump’s Blockade Is Zeroing Out Iran’s Oil Exports

The Islamic Republic of Iran suffered a devastating blow in May, with the American blockade and sanctions biting deep into the regime’s bottom line. Iran exported zero crude oil in the month and only...

June 3, 2026 | Max Meizlish, Connor Pfeiffer

Beyond the Embargo: A Toolkit for Squeezing the Cuban Regime

Opponents of U.S. sanctions often cite Cuba as “Exhibit A” for why sanctions don’t work. The United States has maintained an embargo on the island for more than six decades — but to what end? Cuba’s...

May 29, 2026 | Mark Dubowitz |

Iran Thinks It Can Still Pull Off One Last Trick

Trump Has Iran on the ropes. Now he must resist the bad deal.

May 27, 2026 | Craig Singleton |

The U.S.-China Superpower Stalemate

For two days in Beijing last week, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping leaned into the familiar theater of great-power diplomacy. Trump said it was an “honor” to be Xi’s friend...

May 26, 2026 | RADM (Ret.) Mark Montgomery, John Hardie

Ukraine now has the ‘cards,’ the US must force Putin to make concessions

Ukraine is proving it holds more “cards” than some assumed, thwarting Russia’s battlefield advances while pounding its infrastructure. Vladimir Putin is visibly under stress to end the war. Yet...

May 22, 2026 | Mark Dubowitz, Miad Maleki

Trump needs to shut down this key Iranian transit artery — ASAP

Iran’s corrupt economy is still bleeding; Washington has a narrow, perishable window to bring the regime to its knees. President Donald Trump has shown admirable resolve. His instinct...

May 21, 2026 | Jack Burnham |

Putin-Xi Summit Fails To Land Major Breakthroughs

This spring is summit season in Beijing.  Russian leader Vladmir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met for a two-day summit on May 20 to 21 and signed 40 limited agreements covering...

May 21, 2026 | Angela Howard |

EU Anti-Circumvention Sanctions Spark Policy Change in Kyrgyzstan

Russia depends on foreign jurisdictions to help it circumvent Western sanctions — but secondary sanctions have raised the cost of abetting this sanctions evasion, deterring at least some facilitation...

May 21, 2026 | Saeed Ghasseminejad, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Iranian Oil Exports Nosedive After U.S. Blockade Begins

Despite Iranian intransigence, the U.S. blockade of the Islamic Republic’s ports, which began on April 13, is already generating real pain — and real results — for the Islamic Republic. Iran exported...

May 21, 2026 | Max Meizlish |

‘Strategic Stability’ requires Chinese accountability

Excerpt President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping left their Beijing summit speaking the same language. The official White House readout issued Sunday mirrored Xi’s...

May 21, 2026 | Elaine K. Dezenski, Josh Birenbaum

After Globalization: The Case for a ‘Near-Global Economy’

The United States needs to pursue economic integration with countries that meet its free-market and geopolitical standards.

May 19, 2026 | Ahmad Sharawi |

Post-Assad Syria Is Mending Fences With Russia

The new Syrian leadership has signaled openness to the West and has even demonstrated cooperation with Ukraine — Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in April....

May 18, 2026 | David Daoud, Ahmad Sharawi

UAE sanctions Hezbollah-linked financial network, reflecting US designations

On May 12, the United Arab Emirates’ official news agency, Emirates News Agency, announced that Abu Dhabi had designated 16 Lebanese nationals and five Lebanon-based entities to its terrorism...

May 12, 2026 | Max Meizlish, Bridget Toomey

Iraqi Corruption Is Fueling Iranian Sanctions Evasion

Iran-backed militias work through politicians, front companies, and oil smugglers to siphon billions of dollars from the Iraqi people each year in schemes to enrich both themselves and the Islamic Republic...

May 6, 2026 | Jack Burnham |

China Looks To Ease Iran Into Resolution of War With U.S.

China is looking to engineer an off-ramp to end the current U.S.-Iran conflict without forcing Tehran to fold. On May 6, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met in Beijing with China’s Foreign...

May 1, 2026 | Janatan Sayeh |

Blockade Pressure Mounts as Washington Rejects Tehran’s Proposal

The Islamic Republic can absorb air and missile strikes but cannot withstand economic collapse. Yet it risks such a collapse if it does not budge. President Donald Trump rejected Tehran’s proposal...

April 29, 2026 | Reuel Marc Gerecht, Ray Takeyh

Reopening the Strait Is Now Job One in the Iran War

The regime has concluded that the ability to control the route is its ticket to survival and rejuvenation.

April 28, 2026 | Max Meizlish, Behnam Ben Taleblu

Trump Strikes at China’s Iranian Oil Trade, but It’s Not Enough

The bombs may have stopped falling on Iran — for now — but that doesn’t mean the regime isn’t still under attack, including its illicit oil trade with China. The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday...

April 28, 2026 | Daniel Swift, Susan Soh

Iranian-Linked Militias in Iraq Threaten U.S. Dollar Flows to the Baghdad Government

The United States has been flying cash — around $400-$500 million at a time — to Baghdad for decades. However, The Wall Street Journal recently reported that the U.S. Treasury had partially suspended...