That kind of blanket policy is just idiotic. There are Iranian expat U.S. Citizens who haven’t lived in Iran for 30 years, work for national security agencies, and probably speak Farsi to each other among family members.
Well, she said she was buying the iPad for a cousin in Iran.
That appears to be an intended violation of the sanctions to me.
Export limitations in play.
Can’t sell a computer like iPad with the knowledge that the item will end up in Iran.
It is a restricted item subject to export regulations, prohibitions and sanctions (can’t send computers to Iran. . something to do with, what, nukes, I think. . .).
Perhaps the employee didn’t explain it correctly, or even didn’t know export law, but fact is, the employee acted lawfully.
If the person bought the iPad and never mentioned sending it to Iran then the sale would have gone through easily. . .I am quite sure of that.
Let’s say she bought the iPad, she could not send the item to her friend/family in Iran, as she would have to list the contents of her package on the Customs form and that would have stopped the shipment right there.
She told the clerk she was buying it for a relative in Iran— sort of like a straw gun purchase. There wasn’t much else the clerk could do.
Frankly, I’m tired of hearing people not speaking in English. Assimilate, or GTFO.
File this under, I don’t really give a rat’s a.s.s.