U.S. TREASURY TARGETS BUSINESSES RELATED TO IRAN'S NUCLEAR AND MISSILE PROLIFERATION ACTIVITIES

FROM:  U.S. TREASURYActions Target Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Proliferation Activities 
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of the Treasury is taking action today against 20 individuals and entities for their involvement in Iran’s nuclear and missile proliferation networks and Iran’s continued attempts to circumvent sanctions. These networks are responsible for moving supplies and providing essential services to Iran’s clandestine nuclear and weapons programs. These actions are designed to increase pressure on the Iranian regime by tightening sanctions against Iran’s energy sector and exposing key proliferation related networks that span the globe from Europe to Asia.

"As long as Iran continues to pursue a nuclear and ballistic missile program in defiance of multiple UN Security Council Resolutions, the U.S. will target and disrupt those involved in Iran’s illicit activities," said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David S. Cohen. "We will continue to work with our international partners to intensify this pressure and tighten sanctions on Iran’s energy sector as it provides much needed financial support for the Iranian regime’s proliferation activity."

Fourteen of the entities and individuals being designated today are part of Iran’s international procurement and proliferation operations. These designations are being made pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which targets weapons of mass destruction proliferators and their supporters. The designations focus on entities and individuals supporting previously designated entities within Iran’s proliferation network as well as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Naftiran Intertrade Company (NICO), and Iran’s Ministry of Defense for Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL). These organizations are at the center of Iran’s continued proliferation activities. Today’s designations include companies supporting IRGC attempts to clandestinely ship illicit cargo around the world, including to Syria. They also target the Deputy Defense Minister and Dean of Malek Ashtar University, who is responsible for significant contributions to Iran’s missile program, as well as companies and individuals supporting Iran’s nuclear program.

Today Treasury is identifying Seifollah Jashnsaz, Chairman of NICO and director of Hong Kong Intertrade Company and Petro Suisse Intertrade Company SA as well as five individuals holding other leadership positions in Iran’s energy sector who have been involved in Iranian attempts to evade international sanctions. These individuals work for the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), NICO, and previously-identified Iranian front companies. Specifically, they are being identified today as subject to sanctions under E.O. 13599, which, among other things, targets the Government of Iran (GOI) and persons acting for or on behalf of the GOI. In addition to Seifollah Jashnsaz, the following individuals are being identified today: Ahmad Ghalebani, managing director of NIOC and a director of both Petro Suisse Intertrade Company SA and Hong Kong Intertrade Company; Farzad Bazargan, managing director of Hong Kong Intertrade Company; Hashem Pouransari, NICO official and managing director of Asia Energy General Trading LLC; and Mahmoud Nikousokhan, NIOC finance director and a director of Petro Suisse Intertrade Company SA.

In 2008, the Treasury Department identified NIOC and NICO, both centrally involved in the sale of Iranian oil, as entities that are owned or controlled by the GOI. Additionally, NIOC was determined to be an agent or affiliate of the IRGC in November 2012 and NICO was designated under E.O. 13382 in April 2013 for being owned or controlled by NIOC. In order to prevent the circumvention of the international community’s sanctions on oil trade with Iran, the Department of the Treasury later identified, among others, Switzerland-based Petro Suisse Intertrade Company SA, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.)-based Asia Energy General Trading LLC, and Hong Kong-based Hong Kong Intertrade Company as front companies for NIOC or NICO.

U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with the entities and individuals listed today, and any assets of those persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen. Additionally, today’s designations under E.O. 13382 carry consequences under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA). Foreign financial institutions that knowingly facilitate significant transactions or provide significant financial services for these sanctioned entities or individuals are exposed to potential loss of access to the U.S. financial system.

Proliferation Designations Related to the IRGC

The IRGC continues to be a primary focus of U.S. and international sanctions against Iran because of the central role it plays in Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs and its involvement in serious human rights abuses. The IRGC was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 in October 2007 for having engaged in proliferation-related activities.

Iran Air was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 in June 2011 for providing support and services to Iran’s, IRGC, MODAFL, and Iran’s Air Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO). Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury is designating several individuals and entities that have provided support to Iran Air and are part of an Iran Air aircraft procurement and support network. This network is also related to Mahan Air and the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and has provided the support needed by these airlines to continue their operations. These activities have included ferrying military and crowd control equipment to the Assad regime as it carries out its campaign of violence against the people of Syria. Mahan Air was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 for providing financial, material and technological support to the IRGC-QF.

Three Iran based companies being designated today have an international footprint – Aban Air, DFS Worldwide and Everex – and are actively assisting Iran Air by providing it with financial services, aviation related procurement and freight forwarding.

Also being designated today are senior officials of the companies - Ali Mahdavi of Aban Air, DFS Worldwide and Everex, Bahareh Mirza Hossein Yazdi of DFS Worldwide and Everex.

Aban Air

Aban Air has offices in Iran, the United Kingdom (U.K.), and the U.A.E. It is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for providing financial, material, and technological support to Iran Air. Aban Air pays the salaries of Iran Air employees and provides them with training. Aban Air has also attempted to acquire aircraft and aircraft parts for Iran Air, carried international freight and cargo for Iran Air, provided Iran Air pilots with non-Iranian pilot licenses and attempted to help Iran Air register its planes outside of Iran.

Additionally, the IRGC used Aban Air to clandestinely ship cargo to and from Iran and Aban Air has held a contract with Mahan Air to carry international freight and cargo for Mahan Air.

Ali Mahdavi

Ali Mahdavi is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting for or on behalf of Aban Air. Mahdavi is the chairman and 50% owner of Aban Air and also leads DFS Worldwide and Everex, which were also designated today for their links to Aban Air.

Everex

Everex has offices in Iran, the U.K., and the U.A.E. It is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 because it acts or purports to act for or on behalf of Aban Air. Everex conspired with Iran Air to import aviation parts into Iran in contravention of sanctions by falsifying end-user certificates and airway bills. Everex also worked with Aban Air to ship cargo on Iran Air from Iran to Sudan.

DFS Worldwide

DFS Worldwide has offices in Iran, South Africa, the U.A.E., the U.K., and Germany. It is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting for or on behalf of Everex and providing services and support to Iran Air and the IRGC. It was founded as a result of the renaming of Everex with no changes concerning addresses, clients, or personnel. DFS Worldwide is a front company for the shipment of equipment from the U.A.E. to Iran. DFS Worldwide carried international freight for Iran Air and regularly booked cargoes for Iran Air.

In addition, DFS Worldwide also served as an expeditor of air cargo for the IRGC and the IRGC used DFS Worldwide to covertly ship cargo to and from Iran. The IRGC-QF repeatedly used DFS Worldwide to ship goods from Dubai to Tehran. DFS Worldwide carried international freight for Mahan Air. DFS Worldwide served as a general cargo and sales agent for Mahan Air, booking and issuing airway bills for Mahan Air.

Bahareh Mirza Hossein Yazdi

Bahareh Mirza Hossein Yazdi is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of DFS Worldwide and Everex through her position as a director for DFS Worldwide and Everex.

Farhad Parvaresh

Farhad Parvaresh is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting for or on behalf of Iran Air by serving as the chairman and managing director of Iran Air.

Designations Related to the IRGC and NIOC

Petro Green
Petro Green, located in Malaysia, is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for providing or attempting to provide goods and services to Khatam Ol-Anbiya (KOA), a construction and engineering firm connected to the IRGC. Since at least 2009, Petro Green has been a primary procurement agent for KOA in its attempt to circumvent U.S. sanctions. KOA was designated by Treasury pursuant to E.O. 13382 on October 25, 2007 for being owned or controlled by the IRGC.

Hossein Vaziri, Energy Global International Fze, and Global Sea Line Company Ltd.
Hossein Vaziri is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the IRGC. Vaziri was the Managing Director of Petro Green, Energy Global International Fze, located in the U.A.E. and Global Sea Line Company Ltd. which located in Singapore. These two companies were also designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 today for being owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of Vaziri, or providing services and support to KOA. Vaziri utilizes Energy Global International and Global Sea Line to facilitate the movement of hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of NICO.

Designation related to Iran’s Nuclear Program
Farhad Bujar
Farhad Bujar is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting for or on behalf of the Iranian Centrifuge Technology Company (TESA). TESA was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 on November 21, 2011 and plays a crucial role in Iran’s uranium enrichment nuclear program. TESA is in charge of the production of the IR-1centrifuge, the type of centrifuge Iran has used to enrich uranium.

Farhad Bujar is the Managing Director of TESA. Through his role as Managing Director of TESA, Bujar is in charge of reviewing TESA’s budget figures, including TESA’s goals for optimizing first- and second generation centrifuge production lines and production of 3,000 advanced IR-2M centrifuges.

Zolal Iran Company

Zolal Iran Company is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for providing services or support to Iran’s Modern Industries Technique Company (MITEC). MITEC was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 on November 21, 2011 by Treasury for being owned or controlled by and providing services to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).

Zolal Iran Company specializes on a project at Iran’s IR-40 heavy water research reactor. Zolal Iran Company is compensated by MITEC for its work on the purification packages for Iran’s IR-40 heavy water research reactor.

Andisheh Zolal Co.

Andisheh Zolal is beingdesignated pursuant to E.O. 13382 because it is owned or controlled by Zolal Iran Company. Andishel Zolal is a sister company of Zolal Iran Company and is co-located with Zolal Iran Company.

Designation related to Iran’s Ministry of Defense for Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL)

Reza Mozaffarinia

Reza Mozaffarinia is being designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for acting for or on behalf of MODAFL. Mozaffarinia is MODAFL’s Deputy Defense Minister and Dean of Malek Ashtar University (MUT). He is responsible for significant contributions to Iran’s missile program. Mozaffarinia has been the head of MUT since at least 2009. MUT was designated on July 12, 2012 pursuant to E.O. 13382 for being owned or controlled by MODAFL. MUT was identified in the Annex to UNSCR 1929 because it is a subordinate of the Defense Technology and Science Research Center within MODAFL.

During an interview by a network correspondent regarding the first satellite Iran successfully launched into space, the Omid satellite, Mozaffarinia stated that during the next ten years, a number of other satellites would be launched as a result of the National Aerospace Organization’s research and development efforts. In addition, Mozaffarinia claims MUT has introduced some special graduate courses which focus on research in order to train students to develop special technology targets.

U.S. COMPANIES AND OTHERS INDICTED FOR SUPPLYING MILITARY ARICRAFT TO IRAN

The following excerpt is from the Department of Justice website:

"Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Members of International Procurement Network Indicted for Supplying Iran with U.S. Military Aircraft Components

Total of 12 Defendants in U.S., France, U.A.E. and Iran Charged

MACON, Ga. – Seven individuals and five corporate entities based in the United States, France, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Iran have been indicted in the Middle District of Georgia for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to illegally export military components for fighter jets and attack helicopters from the United States to Iran.   One of the defendants and his company were sentenced yesterday, with the individual receiving nearly five years in prison. Another defendant and his company have admitted their illegal conduct and also pleaded guilty in the investigation.

Federal prosecutors today unsealed a superseding indictment in Macon, Ga., charging eight of the defendants with conspiring to violate and violating the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Iranian Transactions Regulations, as well as conspiracy to defraud the United States, money laundering and false statement violations.   Charges against the four other defendants, who have pleaded guilty in the case, are contained in the original indictment in the investigation that was filed previously.

The indictment and other enforcement actions were announced by Todd Hinnen, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Michael J. Moore, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia; Brock Nicholson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) office in Atlanta; Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent-in-Charge of the FBI’s Atlanta Field Division; and Robert Luzzi, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Commerce Department, Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) Miami Field Office.

The Defendants

Thus far, four defendants based in the United States have been charged as part of the investigation.   They are The Parts Guys LLC, a company in Port Orange, Fla., that maintains a warehouse at the Middle Georgia Municipal Airport in Macon, as well as the president of The Parts Guys, Michael Edward Todd, who is a U.S. national.  In addition, Galaxy Aviation Services, a company in St. Charles, Ill., and its president, Hamid Seifi, also known as Hank Seifi, an Iranian-born U.S. national, have been charged.  

Todd was arrested last year in Atlanta based on the original indictment in the case.  Todd and his company, The Parts Guys, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the AECA on May 9, 2011, and have yet to be sentenced.   Federal agents arrested Seifi in Atlanta earlier this year, also based on the original indictment.   Seifi and his company, Galaxy Aviation, pleaded guilty on Feb. 24, 2011, to conspiracy to violate the AECA and violating the IEEPA.   Yesterday, Seifi was sentenced to 56 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, a fine of $12,500 and forfeiture of $153,950, while Galaxy Aviation, which is now defunct, received a $400 special assessment.   

Three defendants based in France have also been indicted as part of the investigation.   They are Aerotechnic, a company in Pinsaguel, France, and its president, Philippe Sanchez, a French national, as well as Luc Teuly, a French national and the sales manager of Aerotechnic.   Each of these defendants remains a fugitive.

Two defendants based in the U.A.E. have also been indicted in the case.  They are Aletra General Trading, a company in Dubai doing business as “Erman & Sultan Trading Co,” and Syed Amir Ahmed Najfi, an Iranian national and purchaser for Aletra.   Najfi remains a fugitive.  

Three defendants based in Iran have also been charged in the case. They are Sabanican Company, a company in Tehran, and its president, Hassan Seifi, an Iranian national, as well as Reza Seifi, an Iranian national and the managing director of Sabanican Company.   Each of these defendants remains at large.

As part of the U.S. government’s coordinated action against this procurement network, the Commerce Department announced today that it will add the eight defendants in France, Iran and the U.A.E. to its “Entity List.”   The Entity List provides notice to the public that certain exports, re-exports and transfers (in-country) to parties identified on the Entity List require a license from the Commerce Department, and that availability of license exceptions in such transactions is limited.   All eight parties will be added to the Entity List with a licensing requirement for all items subject to the Commerce Department export regulations and with a presumption of denial.

The Charges

According to the charges, the defendants conspired to export components for attack helicopters and fighter jets to Iran without obtaining the required U.S. export licenses.   These components included military parts for the Bell AH-1 attack helicopter, the UH-1 Huey attack helicopter, as well as the F-5 and F-4 fighter jets.

           

Defendant Najfi and his firm in the U.A.E. are alleged to have placed orders and purchased military aircraft parts, including those for the Bell AH-1 attack helicopter, from Todd and his company, The Parts Guys, in the United States.   Todd and other conspirators then attempted to and did cause the export of the aircraft parts to the U.A.E.   

Defendant Hank Seifi and his firm in Illinois also allegedly placed orders and purchased U.S. aircraft parts from Todd and his company in Georgia -- on behalf of Hassan Seifi, Reza Seifi and their company in Iran.   According to the charges, Todd and other conspirators then caused these aircraft parts to be exported to Iran via the defendants in France: Sanchez, Teuly and their company, Aerotechnic.

The charge of conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, while violating the AECA carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and violating IEEPA carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.   Money laundering carries a maximum 20 years in prison, while making false statements carries a maximum of five years in prison.

“The defendants in this case are alleged to have conspired to defraud the United States by illegally acquiring and exporting fighter jet and attack helicopter components.   Keeping such advanced weaponry, which is designed to protect the men and women of our Armed Forces and to defend our national interests, from falling into the hands of state sponsors of terror has never been more important,” said Todd Hinnen, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security.

“Through coordinated law enforcement efforts, we have cut off more than a branch of this illegal supply tree; we have cut off the tree at its trunk.  These parts have a military purpose, and I am determined to see that they are not used to harm the United States, its soldiers, citizens or friends.  This type of criminal activity should remind each of us that we must be ever vigilant in our efforts to protect our national security.  The threat is very real, and comes from even the least suspected places, including middle Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Moore.

“The illegal export of U.S. weapons and military technology presents a direct threat to our national security,” said Brock Nicholson, Special Agent-in-Charge of ICE-HSI in Atlanta. “This investigation demonstrates the importance of preventing our military equipment from falling into the wrong hands, where it could potentially be used against our military members, our homeland and our allies.  Enforcing U.S. export laws is one of our top priorities, and we will continue working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who put our country at risk are discovered and brought forward for prosecution.”

Brian D. Lamkin, Special Agent-in-Charge, FBI Atlanta, stated: “The cooperative efforts among the FBI, ICE and U.S. Commerce was critical in bringing this case forward for prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice.   The enforcement of U.S. laws that prohibit the acquisition of specified defense related items is paramount to national security and is a daunting task when back dropped against the vast movement of legitimate international trade that occurs every day in the U.S.   The FBI is pleased with the role that it has played in this multi-agency enforcement effort.”

“ The Commerce Department's Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) dedicates one hundred percent of its resources to enforcing export laws, and today's case is the result of ongoing cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI to protect our national security,” said Robert Luzzi, Special Agent-in-Charge of OEE's Miami Field Office.   “Parties who export to embargoed destinations such as Iran will be pursued and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

           

This case was investigated by ICE Homeland Security Investigations in Atlanta, FBI Atlanta Field Division and the Department of Commerce’s OEE.  

The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kolman and Danial E. Bennett from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia and Trial Attorneys Ryan P. Fayhee and Brandon L. Van Grack from the Counterespionage Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

The public is reminded that an indictment contains mere allegations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

11-826

National Security Division"