Iranian Citizen Pleads Guilty in New York Court to Violating U.S. Sanctions

An Iranian citizen who was extradited to the United States after being arrested in Europe pleaded guilty on Thursday, September 7, to charges of participating in a conspiracy to circumvent U.S. sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday, September 7, in a statement that Behzad Poorqanad “today pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to export carbon fiber from the United States to Iran during the years 2008 to 2013.”

Poorqanad was arrested in Germany on May 3, 2017, and was extradited to U.S. authorities in New York last July for trial.

Carbon fiber is used in missile industries, aerospace engineering, and uranium enrichment centrifuges.

U.S. officials have repeatedly warned that America will impose sanctions on any prohibited trade with Iran.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recently stated that according to current sanctions, humanitarian services and emergency needs can be provided to Iran; however, once dealings go beyond that, they may enter the realm of imposed sanctions. He warned at the time that Washington would respond to any violation of sanctions.

Earlier, Bryan Hook, Special Representative of the U.S. State Department for Iran Affairs, also told Voice of America’s Persian service that if trade with Iran is conducted within the framework of U.S. humanitarian exemptions, there is no objection; however, he simultaneously warned that America will sanction sanctionable transactions.

Source: Voice of America