U.S. Department of the Treasury

Washington – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 16 entities and individuals for engaging in support of illicit Iranian actors or transnational criminal activity.  These designations include seven entities and five individuals for engaging in activities in support of Iran’s military or Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as an Iran-based transnational criminal organization and three associated persons. The three networks designated today supported Iran’s military procurement or the IRGC through the development of unmanned aerial vehicles and military equipment for the IRGC, the production and maintenance of fast attack boats for the IRGC-Navy, or the procurement of electronic components for entities that support Iran’s military.  The transnational criminal organization designated today, along with two Iranian businessmen and an associated entity, orchestrated the theft of U.S. and western software programs which, at times, were sold to the Government of Iran.  Today’s actions were taken pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13382, which targets proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery and supporters of such activity, as well as E.O. 13581, which targets transnational criminal organizations.

 

The State Department also designated today two Iranian organizations involved in Iran’s ballistic missile program pursuant to E.O. 13382.

As a result of this action, all property and interests in property of those designated today subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.  In addition, foreign financial institutions that facilitate significant transactions for, or persons that provide material or certain other support, to the entities and individuals designated today risk exposure to sanctions that could sever their access to the U.S. financial system or block their property and interests in property under U.S. jurisdiction.

 

 

 

 

Qeshm Madkandaloo Shipbuilding Cooperative Co (Qeshm Madkandaloo) was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological or other support for, or goods or services in support of, the IRGC.  Qeshm Madkandaloo, on Qeshm Island, Iran has been a supplier to the IRGC-Navy of dockside equipment, as well as general support and maintenance services, since as early as 2011.  The company has served multiple IRGC-Navy bases and has received weapons from the IRGC-Navy to test in the Strait of Hormuz.  In its support to the IRGC-Navy, Qeshm Madkandaloo has assisted in the development of fast attack boat platforms, built dock infrastructure worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and provided repair and maintenance services for dockside equipment such as cranes.  Qeshm Madkandaloo has also been involved in the repair of IRGC-Navy equipment.

 

Ramor Group, also designated today pursuant to E.O. 13382, has provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Qeshm Madkandaloo.  Ramor Group is a Turkey-based distribution company of marine equipment.  As early as 2012, Ramor Group acted as the consignee for U.S.-origin goods ultimately destined for Qeshm Madkandaloo and sold goods directly to Qeshm Madkandaloo.  Additionally, Ramor Group was involved in a project to develop a prototype vessel for Qeshm Madkandaloo.  Ramor Group is also being designated today for being owned or controlled by Resit Tavan.

 

OFAC also designated Resit Tavan pursuant to E.O. 13382 for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Qeshm Madkandaloo.  Resit Tavan is the President and sole owner of Ramor Group.  In his capacity as President, Resit Tavan acted as the broker for Qeshm Madkandaloo, including to procure U.S.-origin goods, and has contributed to the gun and missile boat development at Qeshm Madkandaloo for the IRGC.  In early June 2017, Resit Tavan was arrested for allegedly violating U.S. export control laws.

 

Today, OFAC designated China-based procurement agent Emily Liu and four associated entities pursuant to E.O. 13382 for proliferation activities related to a key supporter of Iran's military.  Emily Liu has provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Iran's Shiraz Electronics Industries (SEI).

 

SEI was designated pursuant to E.O. 13382 on September 17, 2008 for being owned or controlled by Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).  SEI is responsible for producing various electronics equipment for the Iranian military, including radars, microwave electron vacuum tubes, naval electronics, avionics, and control systems, training simulators, missile guidance technology, and electronic test equipment.

 

Since at least 2014, China-based procurement agent Emily Liu has sought to procure U.S.-, Canadian-, and European-origin electronic components on behalf of SEI.

 

OFAC also designated four China-based entities for being owned or controlled by or for having provided, or attempted to provide, financial, material, technological, or other support for, or goods or services in support of, Emily Liu: Abascience Tech Co. Ltd., Raybeam Optronics Co. Ltd., Raytronic Corporation Limited, and Sunway Tech Co., Ltd. Liu has used these companies to support her proliferation activities.