Our Publications
Policy Briefs
March 17, 2016
This week, the United Nations published some guidance about a critical part of the nuclear agreement with Iran: the procurement channel. Sales to Iran of items controlled by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) and of non-listed items with nuclear applications must pass through this channel, following a review by the newly created Procurement...
International Enforcement Actions
March 8, 2016
The CEO of a New York-based metallurgical company has been arrested on charges of illegally exporting a specialized metallic powder from the United States to Iran, the U.S. Justice Department announced on March 1. According to the criminal complaint, Erdal Kuyumcu, a naturalized U.S.
International Enforcement Actions
February 16, 2016
On January 17, 2016 – the day after implementation of the nuclear deal with Iran – President Barack Obama announced the details of another agreement with Iran: four Americans who had been detained in Iran were released, and, in exchange, clemency was granted to six Iranian-Americans and one Iranian serving sentences or awaiting trial in the United...
International Enforcement Actions
February 9, 2016
On January 27, 2016, Chinese national Sihai Cheng pleaded guilty to six counts related to the export of American-made pressure transducers to Iran in violation of U.S. export laws. He had been extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States to face the charges on December 5, 2014. Also indicted in the case were Iranian national Seyed...
Articles and Reports
January 29, 2016
Iran and the P5+1 announced on January 16, 2016 that Iran had met its initial obligations under the terms of the nuclear agreement. “Implementation Day” brought a first round of sanctions relief for Iran, including the removal of some 600 individuals and firms from the European Union, United States, and United Nations blacklists. These removals...
International Enforcement Actions
January 20, 2016
Criminal indictments were unsealed in Delaware and Massachusetts relating to the prosecution of Iranian arms procurement agent Amir Hossein Ardebili. In May 2008, Ardebili pled guilty to multiple violations of the Arms Export Control Act, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, smuggling, conspiracy and money laundering.
Policy Briefs
January 18, 2016
Iran and the P5+1 announced on January 16 that Iran had met its obligations under the terms of the nuclear agreement and would immediately receive a first round of sanctions relief. “Implementation Day” of the agreement arrived sooner than expected, as Iran rushed to limit the scope of its nuclear work and stockpiles, including by diluting or...
Policy Briefs
January 8, 2016
Last week, the White House backtracked on plans to impose new financial sanctions on Iran’s ballistic missile program. The Wall Street Journal reported on December 30 that the Treasury Department was preparing to sanction 11 companies and individuals that helped Iran’s missile developers illicitly procure key items from foreign suppliers.
Policy Briefs
December 10, 2015
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released its long-awaited final report on Iran’s alleged past nuclear weapons work on December 2. This report is likely to be the Agency’s last word on its investigation into what it calls “the possible military dimensions [PMD] to Iran’s nuclear program.” The Agency found that Iran had a “...
Policy Briefs
December 2, 2015
Iran is taking steps to expedite the implementation of the nuclear deal, which Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi expects in “early January.” An early January implementation date now looks possible because Iran has taken two key steps needed to fulfill the nuclear restrictions required by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action: 1) it...