US sanctions British, Armenian firms for Iran exports

YahooNews/AFP ^ | Mar 21, 2008

[nuconvert]

Mar 21, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States slapped sanctions on British and Armenian firms Friday for unauthorized re-exports of aircraft to Iran, officials said.

The US Commerce Department suspended export privileges of British-based Balli Group PLC and related companies, Armenian-based Blue Airways, and Iran-based Mahan Airways for 180 days.

A statement said US officials learned that the companies "knowingly re-exported three US origin aircraft to Iran in violation of the Export Administration Regulations and are preparing to re-export three additional US origin aircraft to Iran in further violation of the (rules)."

In addition, the agency said "false statements were made" to US authorities on the ultimate destination and user of the aircraft.

The agency said it has ordered the redelivery to the United States of the three aircraft about to be re-exported to Iran.

But it said Balli Group PLC "has not complied and has indicated that it will not cooperate."

A US official said the latest moves were part of longstanding sanctions on the Tehran regime and not linked to the latest push by the United States and its allies to pressure Iran into freezing its disputed nuclear energy program.

Officials declined to comment on the type of aircraft that were to be sold to Iran.

[nuconvert]

hmmm .....

[USMCPOP]

More info here: http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1232669/

And this is quite interesting, an article titled “Iranians Scheme to Elude Sanctions”. Interesting quote: “It’s now back to a suitcase economy for many transactions,” says Hassan Alaghband, managing director of London-based Balli Group PLC, a family-owned commodities trader active in Iran. “And one of the dangers of a suitcase economy is that you have no idea where the money is going.”

http://server2.iranvajahan.net/cgi-bin/news.pl?l=en&y=2008&m=02&d=13&a=2

And lastly, the Balli Group bunch:

* Vahid Alaghband – Chairman
* Hassan Alaghband – Director
* Nasser Alaghband – Joint CEO
* Hossein Adle – Joint CEO
* Dr. Houshang Shams - Director
* David Spriddell – Finance Director

More info on Vahid Alaghband: http://mi-b.livejournal.com/61766.html

[nuconvert]

Thanks for the links. The first one revealed this...

“Respondents allege Blue Sky One Ltd., Blue Sky Two Ltd. and Blue Sky Three Ltd., are used as investment vehicles that each own one aircraft for long term leases to airlines. Respondents have stated to BIS that the aircraft were leased to Blue Airways, located in Armenia, and have not and would not be subleased or otherwise reexported to Mahan Air or any other Iranian entity. Multiple open sources contradict these statements and show that the aircraft, identifiable by serial number and tail number, are now controlled and/or operated by Mahan Airways, an Iranian company. No U.S. Government authorization was obtained for the reexport of these three aircraft.

Further, BIS’s investigation has revealed that Respondents are attempting to divert three additional U.S. origin aircraft of the same type to Mahan Airways. The aircraft are currently located outside the United States and are owned by Blue Sky Four Ltd., Blue Sky Five Ltd. and Blue Sky Six Ltd. No U.S. Government authorization has been obtained for the reexport of these three aircraft to Iran. When questioned by BIS, Respondents claimed that the aircraft are not destined for Mahan Airways or any other Iranian entity. On February 22, 2008, BIS ordered the redelivery of these three additional aircraft to the United States in accordance with Section 758.8(b) of the EAR. The Respondents have not complied with this order and have indicated that they will not cooperate.”

Mahan Airways is owned by Rafsanjanis.