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Friday, October 29, 2010     INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

U.S. sanctions 37 Iran front companies in Europe

WASHINGTON — The United States has identified Iranian front companies in Europe that were transporting military equipment to Teheran.

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The U.S. Treasury Department has identified and sanctioned 37 companies deemed to be fronts for Iran, Middle East Newsline reported. Treasury said the companies were based in Germany, Malta and the Republic of Cyprus and acting for Iran's state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.

"We will continue to expose the elaborate structures and tactics Iran uses to shield its shipping line from international scrutiny so that it can continue to facilitate illicit commerce," Treasury Undersecretary Stuart Levey said.


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On Oct. 27, Treasury announced sanctions on 37 front companies as well as five Iranians. All of them were accused of aiding Iran in the transport of military equipment and components for weapons of mass destruction.

Officials said Iran has established front companies throughout Europe as well as in Muslim states. They said the fronts were meant to evade sanctions on IRISL imposed by the United Nations and United States. The Iranian shipping line first came under sanctions in 2008.

"Following its September 2008 designation by Treasury under E.O. 13382 for its provision of logistical services to Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, the arm of the Iranian military that oversees its ballistic missile program, IRISL has increasingly created and relied upon a series of front companies and has engaged in deceptive behavior to assist efforts to evade the impact of sanctions and increased scrutiny of its activities," Treasury said.

Officials said Treasury has so far identified and sanctioned nearly 70 fronts for IRISL. The U.S. agency was also said to have identified more than 100 ships as belonging to IRISL or its fronts.

Thirty of the Iranian fronts were reported to be located in Germany, including 11 companies that share the same address in Hamburg. Mohammed Talai was identified as the manager of the 11 Hamburg-based firms and a representative of IRISL Europe.

Six other fronts were located in Malta. Two of them — Woking Shipping Investments and Kerman Shipping — were identified as IRISL subsidiaries.

Iran has also established at least one front in Cyprus. Treasury deemed Lancelin Shipping an IRISL subsidiary.

"This pattern of obfuscation is leading the private sector around the world to refuse business with Iran rather than risk becoming involved in its nuclear and missile programs," Levey said.



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