News from June 2023


Sanctioning Operatives Involved in Iranian External Plots

News Release: The United States remains committed to exposing and disrupting plots by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to carry out violence abroad. For decades, the IRGC has engaged in many assassination attempts, terrorist plots, and other violence against those whom the Iranian regime views as enemies, including through ongoing plots against U.S. citizens and former United States government officials.



Commemorating LGBTQI+ Pride Month 

Release: Every June, the United States celebrates Pride Month, marking the anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, when police raided a gay bar in New York City and its patrons stood up against discrimination, abuse, and mistreatment.  Pride reminds us of the spirit of democratic protest and the principle that all persons are created equal and every individual’s full humanity should be equally respected.


Secretary Antony J. Blinken And NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg After Their Meeting

Release: SECRETARY GENERAL STOLTENBERG: Secretary Blinken, dear Tony, welcome to Oslo. Welcome to this NATO foreign ministerial meeting. We have many issues to discuss but let me first of all thank you for your personal commitment, your personal leadership, and not least, everything United States does to strengthen ...



Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Saudi Arabia

News Release: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Saudi Arabia June 6-8 to meet with Saudi officials to discuss U.S.-Saudi strategic cooperation on regional and global issues and a range of bilateral issues including economic and security cooperation.


Secretary Blinken Welcomes International Education Community to Washington, D.C. for 75th NAFSA: National Association of International Educators’ Conference

News Release: This week in Washington, D.C., U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed nearly 10,000 attendees from higher education institutions, foreign governments, and other key industry stakeholders to the 75th NAFSA: National Association of International Educators’ conference, one of the world’s largest ...


Renewal of the Charter for the Secretary’s International Security Advisory Board

News Release: The Department announced today the renewal of the charter for the Secretary’s International Security Advisory Board (ISAB). The ISAB provides the Department with a continuing source of independent insight, advice, and innovation on all aspects of arms control, disarmament, nonproliferation, outer space, ...


Ambassador at Large Fick’s Travel to Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia

Release: From June 5 to 9, Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) Nathaniel C. Fick will travel to Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia for meetings with government and industry leaders, as well as members of civil society. Ambassador Fick will meet with counterparts to discuss cooperation on...


Russia’s Strategic Failure and Ukraine’s Secure Future

News Release: MAYOR VARTIAINEN: Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, it is my great pleasure to warmly welcome you all to the beautiful capital of Finland, Helsinki, and the Helsinki City Hall. Helsinki has a great honor to host this special event today. We are humbled and in great appreciation to have the U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken here in Helsinki.


On the Detention of Leaders and Staff of Vietnamese Environmental Civil Society Organization CHANGE

Release: The United States is concerned by the detention of leaders and staff of CHANGE, including the ongoing detention of CHANGE’s founder Hoang Thi Minh Hong.


Proliferation Security Initiative’s 20th Anniversary and High-Level Political Meeting

Release: The Republic of Korea hosted the High-Level Political Meeting in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) on May 30, 2023. This meeting reviewed the actions implemented by PSI-endorsing States over the past 20 years, assessed the proliferation challenges we face presently and provided direction to PSI to meet these challenges over the next five years.


Designation of Arvan Cloud and Affiliates That Have Aided Internet Censorship in Iran

News Release: Today, the United States is announcing additional sanctions in our effort to support the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Iranian people, including the freedom of expression both online and offline including the freedom to access information via the Internet.


Designation of Laurent Salvador Lamothe – Former Haitian Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and External Cooperation – for Involvement in Significant Corruption

News Release: Today, I am announcing the designation of Laurent Salvador Lamothe, former Haitian Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, for his involvement in significant corruption. This action renders Lamothe generally ineligible for entry into the United States. Specifically, Lamothe ...


McCaul, Gallagher Urge Commerce to Take Action Following CCP Micron Ban

News Release: Washington, D.C. - Following the Chinese Communist Party ban of Micron, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mike Gallagher (R-WI) sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, calling on Commerce to work with Japan and South Korea to ensure their companies do not take market share lost to the ban and undercut Micron.


Secretary Blinken Welcomes International Education Community to Washington, D.C. for 75th NAFSA: National Association of International Educators’ Conference

Release: This week in Washington, D.C., U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken welcomed nearly 10,000 attendees from higher education institutions, foreign governments, and other key industry stakeholders to the 75th NAFSA: National Association of International Educators’ conference, one of the world’s largest...


Department of State Dedicates New U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad, India

Release: In an important symbol of our enduring friendship with India, U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti, U.S. Consul General Jennifer Larson, and local government officials formally dedicated the new U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad on May 26.


Proliferation Security Initiative’s 20th Anniversary and High-Level Political Meeting

News Release: The Republic of Korea hosted the High-Level Political Meeting in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) on May 30, 2023. This meeting reviewed the actions implemented by PSI-endorsing States over the past 20 years, assessed the proliferation challenges we face presently and provided direction to PSI to meet these challenges over the next five years.


Designation of Laurent Salvador Lamothe – Former Haitian Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and External Cooperation – for Involvement in Significant Corruption

Release: Today, I am announcing the designation of Laurent Salvador Lamothe, former Haitian Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and External Cooperation, for his involvement in significant corruption. This action renders Lamothe generally ineligible for entry into the United States. Specifically, Lamothe...


Designation of Arvan Cloud and Affiliates That Have Aided Internet Censorship in Iran

Release: Today, the United States is announcing additional sanctions in our effort to support the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Iranian people, including the freedom of expression both online and offline including the freedom to access information via the Internet.