sanctions

At the same time the UAE and the US were trying to find incentives for him to break the alliance with Tehran, relaxing sanctions and allowing Assad to continue his international rehabilitation.

The UK and US governments have imposed sanctions on a British-Kenyan businessman over his alleged involvement in the illicit gold trade.

The expectation is, however, that a future Secretary of State Rubio will coalesce the US’s Cuba policy around a single idea - maximum pressure on the island by tightening the already-harsh sanctions.

“Our approach has shifted the balance of power in the Middle East through this combination of support for our partners, sanctions, diplomacy and targeted military force when necessary,” he said.

EU imports of uranium from Russia rose by more than 70%, despite the heavy sanctions imposed on Moscow because of its invasion of Ukraine.