WASHINGTON — US authorities said Tuesday an Iranian man has been charged with exporting specialized metals to his homeland for potential use in nuclear and ballistic missile programs, in violation of a US embargo.
Milad Jafari, 36, was indicted on 11 charges for “illegally exporting and attempting to export specialized metals from the United States through companies in Turkey to several entities in Iran, including some entities that have been sanctioned for involvement in ballistic missile activities,” the Justice Department said.
A federal indictment, which also seeks forfeiture of $177,000 dollars connected to the crimes, was returned by a grand jury in July last year and unsealed Tuesday in Washington, the department said.
Jafari, 36, remains at large and is believed to be in Iran, the Justice Department said. The charges carry an aggregate prison sentence of 155 years.
US authorities detailed data that showed Jafari and associates operated “a procurement network that provides direct support to Iran’s missile program by securing metal products, including steel and aluminum alloys, for subordinates of Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization (AIO).”
The US Treasury Department said it has moved to freeze all US assets belonging to Jafari, his brother, their mother and father, and two Jafari associates in Turkey.
All had roles in the procurement network, said Treasury, adding that between 2007 and 2008 the Jafari team “facilitated transactions valued at more than $7 million for companies subordinate to AIO.”
From 2004 to 2007 Jafari allegedly conspired to export the goods to Iran in violation of a US embargo, including to Sanam Industrial Group, a firm “sanctioned by the United States and United Nations for involvement in nuclear and ballistic missile activities,” the Justice Department said.
“The allegations in the indictment unsealed today shed light on the reach of Iran’s illegal procurement networks and the importance of keeping US materials from being exploited for Iran’s weapons development,” David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, said in the Justice statement.
Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey said “the Treasury Department will continue to identify and expose channels Iran is using to defy international sanctions, wherever those channels may be located.”
The indictment comes as diplomats and analysts query whether fresh sanctions should be applied by the West over Iran’s disputed nuclear drive, after the latest talks between world powers collapsed in Istanbul earlier this month.
The West suspects Iran is seeking to build a nuclear bomb, an accusation denied by the Islamic republic which says its program is for peaceful use of nuclear power.
