U.S. charges Turkish, Iranian nationals with evading Iran sanctions

November 10, 2016

Publication: 

U.S. Department of Justice Press Release

Related Country: 

  • Turkey

Federal authorities unsealed an indictment on November 10 charging four Turkish and Iranian nationals with violating U.S. sanctions on Iran by conducting over $100 million of transactions for the Iranian government and Iranian metal companies.  According to the indictment, between 2014 and 2016, the four defendants -- Habibollah Zarei, Bora Deniz, Nesteren Zarei Deniz, and Abdullah Evren Erdem -- helped Iranian companies export thousands of tons of copper and steel, using U.S. banks to route financial transactions for the scheme.  All four defendants are still at large.