Taiwan Company Used Iranian Airline to Send Controlled Items to Russia, BIS Says
The Bureau of Industry and Security this week renewed a temporary export denial order for Mahan Airways -- along with other entities and people tied to the Iranian airline -- after discovering a Taiwan-based company recently used the airline to send export-controlled parts to Russia.
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During a "post-shipment verification" BIS carried out in May, the agency found out that a Taiwanese company had "diverted several shipments" of electronic components to Russia via Iran by shipping the items aboard a Mahan aircraft. The shipment included items classified under Export Control Classification Number 3A991.a.2 -- which describes certain microprocessor, microcomputer and microcontroller microcircuits -- along with certain items listed in Tier 1 of the agency's Common High Priorirty List. Those items include electronic integrated circuits that BIS said are of "the highest concern due to their critical role in the production" of advanced Russian weapons systems.
BIS didn't name the Taiwanese company, but the agency said "Mahan’s role in transporting the item violated" the BIS temporary denial order.
The agency also said Mahan continues to violate the order and the Export Administration Regulations by operating flights between Iran and Iraq, Russia and China. BIS extended the denial order for one year from Oct. 29 because of Mahan's "repeated, ongoing and/or continuous apparent violations" of the EAR.
"Therefore, renewal of the TDO is necessary in the public interest to prevent imminent violation of the Regulations and to give notice to companies and individuals in the United States and abroad that they should continue to avoid dealing with Mahan Airways and Al Naser Airlines and the other denied persons, in connection with export and reexport transactions involving items subject to the Regulations and in connection with any other activity subject to the Regulations," BIS said.
BIS last renewed the order in October 2023 (see 2311010006).