OFAC Sanctions Iranian Dual-Use, Military Tech Procurement Network
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned nearly 40 people and entities with ties to networks helping to buy sensitive goods and technology for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, along with its missile and military aircraft production efforts.
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The designations partly target a procurement network largely based in Iran, Hong Kong and China for sourcing U.S.-origin, dual-use electronics for Shiraz Electronics Industries, which is controlled by Iran's defense ministry and produces equipment for the Iranian military, including radars and missile guidance technology for surface-to-air missile defense systems. OFAC also sanctioned a network operating out of Iran, Germany, Turkey, Portugal and Uruguay that has procured equipment, including a U.S.-origin helicopter, for Iran Helicopter Support and Renewal Co., a subsidiary of the defense ministry.
OFAC said the sanctions were coordinated with the help of the State Department, DHS and the FBI. The agency specifically said DHS and the State Department helped it identify Beh Joule Pars Commercial Engineering Co., an "advanced conventional weapons procurement and sales conglomerate" that runs a network of companies acquiring military and dual-use items for Iran. OFAC sanctioned several of the company's senior officials and affiliates.
Others sanctioned include Iran-based Khazra Communications Technology Solutions, a defense contractor that has sourced U.S.-origin printed circuit boards for Shiraz Electronics Industries, which was previously sanctioned; Westcom Technology Co. Ltd. and Hong Kong-based Innovia Electronic Technology Co. Ltd., two Chinese companies that procure electronic components for Iranian missile and radar systems; and China-based Hebei Senning Automated Equipment Co. Ltd., which has made multiple shipments of materials to a holding company that supplies Iran. OFAC said Hebei Senning Automated Equipment operates under the trade name “Sunny International Co Ltd.”
In addition, the agency sanctioned several companies involved in supplying helicopters and their parts to Iran, including Portugal-based Business United Unipessoal LDA, which "sold or attempted to sell" helicopter parts to Iran-based Pasargad Helicopter Co. Business United Unipessoal also bought a U.S.-origin helicopter worth nearly 4 million euros (about $4.7 million) on behalf of Pasargad Helicopter Co., OFAC said.