Commerce Revokes Export Privileges for EAR, Iran Sanctions Violations

Commerce denied export privileges for two Iranian nationals and their company after they tried to export a $15,000 micro drill press from the U.S. to Iran, Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security said in a July 8 denied export order. Commerce also fined them $300,000 for trying to violate the Export Administration Regulations and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.

In 2013, U.S. citizens Pouran Aazad and Sadr Emad-Vaez used their company, Ghareh Sabz Co., to buy the “highly accurate” drill press from a U.S. manufacturer, Commerce said. The drill came with a “video edge finder, process inspection camera, and spray mister system,” the order said.

Aazad and Emad-Vaez tried to avoid U.S. export controls by telling the U.S. manufacturer to send the drill press to the United Arab Emirates “Since we are not able to receive the cargo directly,” according to the order. They also told the U.S. company to list the Dubai address in all documents. Once the drill arrived in the UAE, Aazad and Emad-Vaez planned to export it to Iran without the proper U.S. export license, Commerce said.

BIS discovered the scheme before the drill was exported and detained it in a San Francisco airport warehouse, Commerce said. Aazad and Emad-Vaez are required to pay the $300,000 civil penalty within 30 days of the date the order was issued or face more penalties. Commerce also revoked export privileges for Aazad, Emad-Vaez and their company for 10 years.