UANI

Headquarted in France, Eurocopter is a subsidiary of the global aerospace and defense company EADS. Eurocopter is one of the world's leading helicopter manufacturers.

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“Since the European Union does not impose restrictions on sales of civil products to Iran, Eurocopter and AgustaWestland market their products in the country, but the US sanctions restrict the Europeans’ offerings to just a few models.” (Globalsecurity.org, “Iran Aviation Industry”)

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 In April 2005, Aviation International News reported that “Eurocopter is well represented in Iran. Last year it won the state tender to supply three AS 365N3 Dauphins outfitted for search-and-rescue and maritime surveillance. Those helicopters, scheduled to be delivered next year, will be the first Dauphins in the nation… Eurocopter estimates Iran’s total demand for civil helicopters to be 100 to 150 units during the next two or three years… Eurocopter predicts that the Dauphin will be the best-selling helicopter in the nation in the years ahead.”

“Last year Iran’s Ministry of Industry and Mines took delivery of an AS 350B3 to use for geological survey. The manufacturer also delivered six AS 350B3s to the Ministry of Oil for Helicopter Services Organization, which is using the new models to supplement its two AS 350B2s, the first French-made helicopters delivered to Iran after the Islamic Revolution under 2000 and 2002 deals.”

“Eurocopter also provides support for the Alouette IIIs and BO 105s operators acquired before the revolution that remain operational with civilian organizations. A total of 30 of these aging types remain airworthy and operate mostly with Helicopter Services Organization.” (Aviation International News, “Helo makers find market in Iran,” April 2005)

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In February 2005, EADS and its subsidiary Eurocopter, marketed their products at that year’s Iran Air Show. When questioned about the American sanctions on Iran, an EADS representative stated, “ As a European company, we're not supposed to take into account embargoes from the U.S.” He added, “The emphasis here is on our civil helicopters. We are not offering military helicopters here.” Nonetheless, a military helicopter was “prominent on the company's video in Iran.” (MSNBC, “European Firms Display Wares in Iran,” 2/23/05)

See Video: Corresponding NBC Nightly News Investigative Report on European defense firms doing business in Iran. (NBC Nightly News, “European Defense Firms Eager to Sell to Iran”)

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Eurocopter was also an exhibitor at the 2007 Iranian Air Show. (2008 Iran Kish Air Show, “Exhibitors”)

EADS is a global leader in aerospace and defense. Germany, France, the Netherlands and Spain all own a stake in the company. Notable subsidiaries of EADS including the airplane manufacturer Airbus and the helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter.

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In 2005, it was also reported that EADS was provided nuclear parts to Iran through sales to a South Korean company, Kyung-Do Enterprises:  “The French firm EADS Sodern was one such company involved in the illegal transactions though it was unaware of the final destination of its exports.”

Iran purchased 300 units of Nickel 63 from the South Korean company: “This radioactive material is needed for firing electrons used in a nuclear bomb’s trigger mechanism.” (Iran Focus, “Iran acquiring nuclear parts from Europe,” 7/25/05)

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“Since the European Union does not impose restrictions on sales of civil products to Iran, Eurocopter and AgustaWestland market their products in the country, but the US sanctions restrict the Europeans’ offerings to just a few models.” (Globalsecurity.org, “Iran Aviation Industry”)

 In April 2005, Aviation International News reported that “Eurocopter is well represented in Iran. Last year it won the state tender to supply three AS 365N3 Dauphins outfitted for search-and-rescue and maritime surveillance. Those helicopters, scheduled to be delivered next year, will be the first Dauphins in the nation… Eurocopter estimates Iran’s total demand for civil helicopters to be 100 to 150 units during the next two or three years… Eurocopter predicts that the Dauphin will be the best-selling helicopter in the nation in the years ahead.”

“Last year Iran’s Ministry of Industry and Mines took delivery of an AS 350B3 to use for geological survey. The manufacturer also delivered six AS 350B3s to the Ministry of Oil for Helicopter Services Organization, which is using the new models to supplement its two AS 350B2s, the first French-made helicopters delivered to Iran after the Islamic Revolution under 2000 and 2002 deals.”

“Eurocopter also provides support for the Alouette IIIs and BO 105s operators acquired before the revolution that remain operational with civilian organizations. A total of 30 of these aging types remain airworthy and operate mostly with Helicopter Services Organization.” (Aviation International News, “Helo makers find market in Iran,” April 2005)

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In February 2005, EADS and its subsidiary Eurocopter, marketed their products at that year’s Iran Air Show. When questioned about the American sanctions on Iran, an EADS representative stated, “ As a European company, we're not supposed to take into account embargoes from the U.S.” He added, “The emphasis here is on our civil helicopters. We are not offering military helicopters here.” Nonetheless, a military helicopter was “prominent on the company's video in Iran.” (MSNBC, “European Firms Display Wares in Iran,” 2/23/05)

See Video: Corresponding NBC Nightly News Investigative Report on European defense firms doing business in Iran. (NBC Nightly News, “European Defense Firms Eager to Sell to Iran”)

Eurocopter was also an exhibitor at the 2007 Iranian Air Show. (2008 Iran Kish Air Show, “Exhibitors”)

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ATR is an Italian-French aircraft manufacturer and a joint venture of EADS and Finmeccanica, which each own a 50% stake of the company. 

The EADS website lists in 2002 that ATR sold one ATR 72-500 aircraft to Iran Aseman Airlines (EADS Website, “ATR results in line with 2002 objectives,” 1/22/03). The ATR 72 model is a short-haul regional airliner. Other ATR aircraft are active in Aseman’s Airlines fleet (Aseman Airlines website, “About Us”)

In 2006, LIMMT Economic & Trade Co., a Chinese seller of metallurgical products, was blocked from selling goods in the U.S. for allegedly selling high-strength metals and sophisticated military materials to Iran.

In April 2009, a New York grand jury indicted LIMMT and its owner, Li Fang Wei, for allegedly conspiring to evade that ban by using aliases, and the U.S. Treasury updated its sanctions list to include those aliases.

In 2006, Dalian Sunny Industry & Trade Co. sent seven shipments of steel parts to Coastal Flange Inc. in Houston. (The 2009 case established that Dalian was an LIMMT affiliate.) In 2007, the shipments began coming from Dalian Orient Pipe Components Co. Bills of lading reveal that Dalian Sunny and Dalian Orient share the same address and telephone number.

Officials at LIMMT, Dalian Sunny and Dalian Orient didn't return calls seeking comment. (The Wall Street Journal, "Chinese Evade U.S. Sanctions on Iran," 1/5/10)

"Chinese companies banned from doing business in the U.S. for allegedly selling missile technology to Iran continue to do a brisk trade with American companies, according to an analysis of shipping records.

A unit of state-owned China Precision Machinery Import-Export Corp., for example, has made nearly 300 illegal shipments to U.S. firms since a ban was imposed on CPMIEC and its affiliates in mid-2006, according to an analysis of shipping records by the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, a nonprofit proliferation watchdog.

A Wall Street Journal review of the records and interviews with officials at some of the American companies indicate that the U.S. firms likely were unaware they were doing business with banned entities, and in many cases were tripped up by altered company names.

The CPMIEC shipments, worth millions of dollars, include everything from anchors and drilling equipment to automobile parts and toys. In many cases, CPMIEC acted as a shipping intermediary -- activity also banned under a 2006 presidential order.

The ability of CPMIEC and other foreign companies to continue doing business in the U.S. despite the sanctions comes as the Obama administration considers fresh economic sanctions against Iran. The illegal shipments suggest that U.S. sanctions have become so numerous and complex that they have become difficult to enforce...

In June 2006, the U.S. banned CPMIEC and three other Chinese companies from conducting business in the U.S., citing their alleged sales of missile technology to Iran in defiance of previous sanctions. Two months later, a shipment of oil-drainage tanks from Shanghai landed at the port of Tacoma, Wash., bound for a New York City firm, American Forge & Foundry Inc. The shipper: a unit of CPMIEC, according to a shipping record known as a bill of lading...

John Iliff, general manager of American Forge & Foundry, says the single shipment of oil-drainage tanks it received in 2006 from the CPMIEC unit set off no alarms. 'Trading in illegal goods certainly never crossed our minds,' he says.

The shipment came from China JMM Import & Export Shanghai Pudong Corp., which didn't appear on any sanctions list until Thursday. Records indicate the company shares an address and phone number with a CPMIEC unit that was previously banned: CPMIEC Shanghai Pudong Corp. The Treasury determined that the two companies are affiliated." (The Wall Street Journal, "Chinese Evade U.S. Sanctions on Iran," 1/5/10)

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• From a Company Press Release: In February 2007, “the opening of a new Customer Service Support Centre in the United Arab Emirates for Air Systems solutions. The newly born Support Centre consolidates Thales local presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries as well as in Egypt, Iran, Pakistan and Yemen. As a major economic and business centre in the region, Dubai, and more precisely the Jebel Ali Free Zone has been chosen to ‘host' the Support Centre.” (Company Press Release, “Thales opens a new support centre in the Middle East,” 2/17/09)

• “Former optic businesses of Thales have consented to pay penalties of USD15 million as part of an agreement with the US Department of State relating to more than 160 alleged breaches of the US Arms Export Control Act and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) dating back as far as 20 years, it emerged on 6 January.

  The allegations concern claims that technology, hardware and services primarily relating to night-vision systems were exported or re-exported to countries including China, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Pakistan, Russia and Singapore."

  While the majority of the alleged violations apply to the early years of the current decade, one dates back to 1985.

  In a statement, the State Department indicated that the probe relates in part to a prior investigation into US defence group ITT Corporation. Thales Singapore (and its predecessor companies) were important suppliers to ITT Night Vision, the State Department said. Jane's reported in March 2007 that ITT had agreed to pay penalties of USD100 million - described by the US Department of Justice at the time as "one of the largest penalties ever paid in a criminal case" - after admitting sending "classified materials overseas".

  The latest Department of State investigation covers certain former Thales High Technology Optic Group companies - Thales Electro-Optics Pte Ltd Singapore (Thales Singapore), Thales Optical Coatings Ltd UK and Thales Optem Inc NY - that were acquired by the Luxembourg-based Qioptiq Group in 2005.” (Jane's, "Former Thales companies agree to pay penalties for US export violations," 1/8/09)

In 2006, "Rosoboronexport contracted with Iran late July to modernize 30 Su-24 front bombers which may bear tactic nuclear weapons. The contract is to be executed by Sukhoi." (Kommersant, "Sanctions Imposed on Russian Companies Linked with Iran," 08/05/06)

"Finmeccanica, a conglomerate of defense, aerospace, energy and transportation companies, provided Iran with 44 gas turbines through its subsidiary Ansaldo Energia as part of a project completed in 2002 to increase that country’s power capacity. This past summer, citing that tie, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority held off from awarding the company a contract to build it light rail cars. But the federal government had no such qualms, awarding the company contracts to sell products like weapons and tracked vehicles to the United States Army while the company was still in Iran. A spokesperson for the Finmeccanica said the company withdrew from Iran because it wanted to align itself with the policies of the Italian government and because it was sensitive to concerns by the U.S. government about companies operating in Iran."  From 2000-2009, the company was the recipient of $2.1 billion US federal funds.  They have withdrawn their activities from Iran.  (The New York Times, "Profiting from Iran, and the US," 3/6/2010)

"However, Breda is owned by Finmeccanica, a conglomerate of defense, aerospace, energy and transportation companies, which has deals to provide Iran with 44 gas turbines through its subsidiary Ansaldo Energia." (LA Times, "MTA takes issue with potential contractor's ties with Iran," 7/18/2009)

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Ansaldo Energia, one of Finmeccanica's subsidiaries, notes the following on its website: "The bid for the supply of 32 simple-cycle gas turbine (GT) units to Iran, in which the main European manufacturers participated, ended with a pre-agreement in May 1999 and the signing of the contract in July of the same year between Ansaldo Energia Spa and its client, Mapna, the largest general contractor in Iran in the electricity field and affiliated to the country's Ministry of Energy. The 32 units, all of them equipped with V94.2 150MW gas turbines, total 4800 MW of power output, constituting roughly 20% of the entire production of the country. In the meantime, new contracts have been added to the initial one, bringing the final number of units supplied by Ansaldo Energia to 44." (Company website)

"ThyssenKrupp AG, a sprawling German industrial conglomerate, itself does no business in Iran but has offshoot companies that do, said Dr. Jürgen Claassen, the company's executive vice president. Sales to Iran accounted for less than 0.5 percent of total group sales, or 40 billion euros, in fiscal year 2008-2009, he said, and did not involve sales to either the defense or nuclear sectors."

From 2000-2009, the company was the recipient of $115.7 million US federal funds.  Their activities in Iran are currently active. (The New York Times, "Profiting from Iran, and the US," 3/6/2010)

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Several renowned German companies are involved in major Iranian infrastructure projects, especially in the petrochemical sector, like Linde, BASF, Lurgi, Krupp, Siemens, ZF Friedrichshafen, Mercedes, Volkswagen and MAN. (Thai Press Reports, IRAN/GERMANY IRANIAN-GERMAN TRADE UP 78%, December 8, 2008)

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The bill, which roped in companies with even small engagements with Iran, affected not only Honda, but DaimlerChrysler AG, Bridgestone Corp., Siemens and ThyssenKrupp AG, all of which have factories in Ohio. The pension funds estimated that the targeted companies employed more than 45,000 workers in the state. (The Associated Press, Should states sell stocks to protest links to Iran, Neil King, JR, June 14, 2007)

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Last Friday, Thyssen-Krupp, a steel-making conglomerate, said a representative of Iran - the companys third biggest shareholder - no longer would hold a seat on its supervisory board. In remarks to shareholders, Thyssen-Krupp supervisory board chairman Gerhard Cromme said he regretted having to remove the Iranian, but failure to do so would have created considerable economic disadvantages for the company. Thyssen-Krupps move came as BP chief executive officer John Browne reiterated that the oil company would refrain from exploring business opportunities in Iran. (The Globe and Mail, Two big EU firms ease ties with Iran, Matthew Karnitschnig, January 28, 2005)