Mr Pourghannad was extradited from Germany to face charges in July and was charged with violating United States sanctions by circumventing export control orders on carbon fibre.

Between 2008 and July 2013, Pourghannad and his two codefendants, Ali Reza Shokri and Farzin Faridmanesh lived and worked in Iran.  During that period, they worked together to obtain carbon fibre from the United States and surreptitiously export it to Iran via third countries.  In particular, Shokri worked to procure many tons of carbon fibre from the United States; Pourghannad agreed to serve as the financial guarantor for large carbon fibre transactions, and Faridmanesh agreed to serve as the trans-shipper.  Carbon fibre has a wide variety of uses, including in missiles, aerospace engineering and gas centrifuges that enrich uranium.

In or around late 2007 and early 2008, Shokri and a Turkey-based co-conspirator successfully arranged for the illegal export and transhipment of carbon fibre from the United States to an Iranian company associated with Shokri.  They contacted a United States supplier of carbon fibre, who in turn enlisted a third individual for assistance with the transaction.  Through this individual, they purchased carbon fibre from the United States supplier and arranged for the shipment of the carbon fibre from the United States, through Europe and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to the Iranian company, operated by Shokri, in Iran.

In May 2009, Pourghannad and Shokri attempted to arrange another illegal purchase and transhipment of carbon fibre from the United States to Iran however the carbon fibre shipment was intercepted before it could be trans-shipped to Iran.

The US department of justice did not specify how much of the carbon fibre actually made it through to Iran, or what would become of the co-defendants Faridmanesh and Shokri. Pourghannad , 65, who is an Iranian citizen, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  He will be sentenced by Judge Briccetti on Dec. 13, 2019.

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Richard Phillips pleaded guilty after attempting to export carbon fibre to Iran in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The proceedings were held before United States Magistrate Judge James Orenstein at the United States Courthouse in Brooklyn, New York. When sentenced, Phillips faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment

According to the pleadings and other court filings by the government, between October 5, 2011 and October 24, 2011, Phillips offered his service and expertise in exporting a spool of carbon fibre to Tehran, Iran, via the Philippines, in direct contravention of the United States trade embargo against Iran. The two main applications of carbon fibre are in specialised technology, including aerospace and nuclear engineering, and in general engineering and transportation. In a recorded telephone conversation with an undercover agent, Phillips was warned that the export of the carbon fibre to Iran was illegal under the trade embargo. In a subsequent recorded conversation Phillips stated;

I know what the rules are … I know what the grey area is … I couldn’t give a f*** about what they say about what we can ship somewhere else.

After a series of recorded telephone calls, email exchanges and meetings with undercover agents of HSI and DCIS, on October 21, 2011, Phillips took possession of a spool of carbon fibre, which was placed into a shipping container, and affixed a label to the container addressed to the Philippines, where it was to be forwarded to Iran.

United States Attorney Lynch stated;

Motivated purely by greed, this defendant threw his energies into supplying Iran with carbon fibre and deliberately breaking the law. We stand committed to protecting our national security by enforcing our nation’s export control laws. This case stands as a stark warning to those who would violate the Iranian embargo and send sensitive technology and equipment abroad.

Ms. Lynch expressed her grateful appreciation to the Counter Espionage Section of the Department of Justice for its assistance.

As alleged, Mr. Phillips wilfully attempted to export U.S. technology to Iran at a time when the U.S. government is imposing tough sanctions against that country

HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Hayes said;

Enforcing our nation’s sanctions and trade embargoes is one of HSI’s top priorities. It prevents U.S. technology from falling into the wrong hands. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the continued commitment of the Defence Criminal Investigative Service and fellow agencies in pro-actively identifying individuals and groups intent on acquiring U.S. military hardware and technology,” stated DCIS Special Agent-in-Charge Bradley. “Safeguarding our military equipment and technology is vital to our nation’s defence and the protection of our armed forces.

Today’s guilty plea demonstrates the continued commitment of the Defence Criminal Investigative Service and fellow agencies in pro-actively identifying individuals and groups intent on acquiring U.S. military hardware and technology. Safeguarding our military equipment and technology is vital to our nation’s defence and the protection of our armed forces.

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