France

Credit Agricole is the largest retail bank in France and one of the largest in Europe, with 13,000 employees and 2.75 billion euros in net income (Company Report).

--

Credit Agricole notes that it "is present in Iran through a representative office which has a role of liasing and informing" (Company Website). 

--

"French banks Société Générale and Crédit Agricole are under U.S. investigation for alleged money laundering and sanction breaches involving Iran, Cuba and Sudan, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter, the latest case in a series of probes of European banks related to embargo violations. The banks are being investigated by the U.S. Treasury Department, the Justice Department, the Manhattan district attorney, and the New York Department of Financial Services, the person said. It's unclear at this point whether any charges could be brought against the two banks or whether the continuing probes could lead to potential fines, the person added. Société Générale and Crédit Agricole had previously disclosed talks with U.S. authorities over potential sanction breaches in corporate filings last year and in early 2010 without providing further details. Spokeswomen for Crédit Agricole and Société Générale declined to comment on the probes beyond the previous statements…Last month, France's largest listed bank BNP Paribas SA said it had set aside $1.1 billion to cover potential penalties related to transactions in countries under U.S. sanctions. This provision was booked in addition to the bank's existing legal provision of €1.68 billion ($2.34 billion) as of Dec. 31, 2013. The bank is in talks with federal and New York state officials to settle investigations of money laundering and sanctions violations in countries including Iran and Cuba, according to people familiar with negotiations. A BNP Paribas spokeswoman had declined to comment on the details of the probe. Société Générale and Crédit Agricole, however, may not face as large a fine as BNP Paribas could, estimates AlphaValue analyst Christophe Nijdam. ‘The provisions set aside by Société Générale and Crédit Agricole for potential litigation point to a much lower risk,’ added Mr. Nijdam. Société Générale had total provision for potential litigation of €700 million on Dec. 31, 2013, according to corporate filings. Crédit Agricole had set aside €1.1 billion for potential litigation on Dec. 31, 2012 and didn't say how much it had set aside for possible litigations in 2013.” (Wall Street Journal, “Société Générale and Crédit Agricole Under U.S. Investigation for Alleged Money Laundering, Sanction Breaches,” 3/7/14)

--

“A delegation of some of France's biggest companies will visit Iran next month to seek business as relations thaw with western powers, the head of the employers' union said on Wednesday…The prospect of an easing of trade restrictions has whetted the appetite of French firms eager to win back business in a country where some used to have extensive operations. The French Medef bosses' association has organized the visit for February 2-5, its president Pierre Gattaz told a news conference, confirming a report about the trip in the Wall Street Journal…Former French ambassador to Iran Francois Nicoullaud told Reuters that French firms that operated in Iran before the sanctions wanted to return. He cited Renault, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Airbus Group , Credit Agricole, Societe Generale and BNP Paribas.” (Reuters, “French trade delegation to visit Iran next month,” 1/15/14)

--

"French banks BNP Paribas (BNP) and Credit Agricole are conducting internal inquiries into U.S. dollar payments to check whether they are potentially in breach of American sanctions, the banks said on Monday... Credit Agricole, which used similar wording in its own annual report, is also reviewing payments linked to countries and entities potentially subject to U.S. sanctions, a spokeswoman said. 'The review is ongoing,' she said." (Reuters, "French banks investigate potential breach of U.S. sanctions," 8/27/12) 

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.

--

“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)

--

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”)

Prosernat is a subsidiary of the state-owned French energy company, IFP (Institute of French Petroleum). IFP's subsidiary Axens also does business in Iran.

--

The company is a consultant and provides licensed units for the Bandar Abbas Refinery expansion project (NIORDC."Refinery Expansion Projects")

--

Prosernat is listed under "Partners, Clients and Contractors" for the Iranian energy company, Oil Industries’ Engineering and Construction (OIEC)

--

The company was responsible for acid gas removal in the Pars LNG Project (Hydrocarbon World, "Iran and the World of Natural Gas," December 2007)

--

Prosernat's AdvAmine processes for natural gas sweetening has been used in phase 2 and 3 of Iran's South Pars Gas Field ("TOTAL's Amine Based Processes")

--

Prosernat's "Propane Refrigeration Package" technology is used at the Darquain oil field in Iran ("NGL Recovery Technologies")

According to its 2017 SEC Form 10-Q: " We have prepared a feasibility study related to improvements to an olefins plant in Iran. We are also providing engineering and design services for the construction of an ethylene plant in Iran, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2018." 

--

Technicolor SA's Nevada-based subsidiary Grass Valley has distributors in Iran.

Danone Iran has its own website.

--

"Paris-listed Groupe Danone S.A., for example, has a long-standing joint venture that produces Damavand mineral water, Iran’s biggest bottled water brand. Danone increased its stake in that venture to 70% from 40% in 2010. Danone didn’t respond to a request for comment." (WSJ, "Western Companies See Potential in Reaching Iran's Consumers After Nuclear Deal," 4/6/2015)

--

Danone's lists three Iranian subsidiaries on its website: Danone Sahar, Damavand, and Mashad Milk Powder Industries Company.  (Company Website - Iran)

"In Iran, an agreement was recently signed to facilitate co-operation with NIDC, (National Iranian Drilling Company) a division of the state NIOC (National Iranian Oil Company), to jointly provide services there." (GeoWorld Press Release, 4/17/2000)

--

"Geoservices, in conjunction with NIDC is providing Mud Logging and Reserval services on two offshore rigs. In order to integrate the local crew, Geoservices provided training courses to POGC (Pars Oil and Gas Company), and to NIDC. The training was performed by Suresh Gadkari (see page 1) and Bosco Pereira." (GeoWorld Press Release, 12/19/2000)

--

"Iran: Award of the Agip/Eni Well Test/Cleanup Contract for South Pars Field, phases 4 and 5. Commencement of Norsk Hydro contract for onshore mud logging operations. Geoservices now has a fully operational Branch Office in Tehran." (GeoWorld Press Release, June 2003)

Has suspended any new marine insurance contracts with Iran; had insured shipping and shipments for Iran following the nuclear agreement. (Carolyn Cohn, Jonathan Saul, "U.S. sanctions seen barring IT platform of insurer Lloyd's for Iran trade," Reuters, July 13, 2018.)

--

Numerous subsidiaries provide insurance to Iran.

--

"Zurich Insurance Group AG (ZURN) is among companies being questioned by New York’s insurance regulator in a widening probe into compliance with an Iran sanctions law, according to a person familiar with the matter. The state Department of Financial Services is asking insurers to explain their policies and procedures to avoid violations of the Iran Freedom and Counter-Proliferation Act of 2012, according to the person. The act took effect July 1. ‘The resulting sanctions could jeopardize the ability of any involved insurer to conduct business in the United States,’ the department said in a letter to the insurers obtained by Bloomberg News. ‘Recently, the Department learned that several companies have insured trades made with Iran.’ The regulator, led by Superintendent Benjamin Lawsky, contacted a group of insurers in June about compliance with the law. That group included Swiss Reinsurance Co. (SREN) and Lloyd’s of London. Besides Zurich, other companies contacted in the newest letter are American International Overseas Ltd., AXA Global Risks, and St. Paul Reinsurance Co. Ltd." (Bloomberg, Zurich Among Insurers Said to Be Probed in Expanded N.Y. Inquiry, 7/24/13)

--

In a correspondance with the SEC, AXA disclosed details regarding their investments in Iran.

“There are three non-US subsidiaries of the AXA Group provide insurance coverage to local subsidiaries or branches of entities known by AXA to be controlled by the government of Iran:  AXA UK has entered into insurance relationships with the UK operations of four state-controlled Iranian banks (three advisory relationships and one UK group pension relationship.  AXA Corporate Solutions, a French AXA subsidiary, has underwritten marine and aviation insurance policies for six companies based in Iran.  AXA Spain holds a 10% co-insurance participation in a marine insurance cover for an Iranian ship (AXA Spain took this 10% co-insurance participation under an insurance program covering the fleet of a Spanish fishing company which subsequently sold one of its boats –with its insurance cover- to an Iranian company.  The German branch of an AXA Assistance French subsidiary provides reinsurance coverage for 16 Iranian insurance companies. These reinsurance programs cover compulsory travel insurance for Iranian citizens entering the “Schengen area” (which consists of the European Union states where the free movement of persons is established). (CORRESP for AXA, 12/8/2009) 

On April 30, 2017, the Financial Tribune reported, “French construction company Vinci SA has signed a contract with Iranian firm Kayson Inc. to invest in the development of two Iranian airports…” (Financial Tribune, “French Firm Signs Contract to Develop 2 Iranian Airports,” 4/30/2017)

--

• Vinci is listed as an attendee at the Focus Iran Summit & Exhibition that took place from September 26-27, 2016, in Tehran, Iran. (Participating Companies)
• "In the Persian Gulf state of Iran, 900t of prestressing were installed on four gas storage tanks with a total capacity of 200,000m3 built on the South Pars field. Work started for Freyssinet on the prestressing and cable staying of the Tabriz bridge near Lake Ourmia in the north of Iran; the structure is the country’s first cable-stayed bridge. With a single 46m pylon, it is made up of two 57m spans suppor- ted by 32 stay cables split into four planes." (Company website, Annual Report 2005)

• "In 2006, Construction Management pursued its prospecting efforts on the international market with the aim of obtaining missions involving project management in the industrial segment and land development in the real estate and tourism segments.  This has resulted in a construction contract for a new galvanization line in Iran, concluded with the Belgian steel company CMI.  A contract was signed in 2006 with CMI (Cockerill maintenance et ingenierie) for collaboration in the construction of a galvanization line at Cbasco, in the Islamic republic of Iran, covering design, construction, assembly, and commissioning." (Company Website, 2006 Annual Report) 

"CMA CGM, the world’s fourth biggest shipping company, said it has sufficient security measures in place to continue operating in the Persian Gulf region even as concerns mount over a possible dispute between Iran and major world powers. The Persian Gulf is a key route for oil tankers, while container shipping companies often use the Suez canal route. CMA CGM stopped services in Iran last year in light of U.S. sanctions but company chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saade said CMA CGM was still sailing through the Persian Gulf. “We are continuing to go there,” Saade told reporters at a business conference in Aix-en-Provence." (Reuters, "CMA CGM says it has sufficient security to operate in Persian Gulf," 7/7/2019).

--

"French shipping group CMA CGM has decided to pull out of Iran following the Trump administration’s decision to renew sanctions on companies operating in the country, its chief executive said on Saturday." (July 7, 2018)

--

Lists an office in Tehran, Iran.

--

In Jan 2018 – CMA CGM restarted its third direct service between Iran and Asia.

--

"CMA CGM Group has appointed CMA CGM Pars as its new agency in Iran as from May 1st, 2017." (CMA CGM, "New CMA CGM Agency In Iran," 5/4/17).

--

"So despite concerns over regulation and reputation, that opportunity explains the caravan of container carriers that started resuming service to Iran back in January. Mediterranean Shipping Co. has returned, as has CMA GGM [likely CMA CGM misspelled]. Panalpina began planning for a potential lifting of sanctions two years before it happened, and now offers regular air, ocean and road services to Iran." (Global Trade, "Transportation/Logistics:Iran is Back Open for Business," 11/1/2016).

--

"Fourteen international shipping lines have returned to Iranian ports following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the formal name of the nuclear deal signed by Iran with the West), the deputy head of Ports and Marine Organization of Iran said. France’s CMA CGM, the world’s third largest container shipping group, called on Shahid Rajaei, Iran’s biggest container port at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, early August." (Financial Tribune, "Int'l Shipping Lines Back to Iran," 9/27/2016).

--

"An Iranian official says the French CMA CGM shipping company has chosen southern Iranian Shahid Rajaei port as the port of call for its container ships. Ebrahim Idani, director general of Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Department, told reporters on Wednesday that the development has come after Iran and the P5+1 group of countries clinched an agreement over Tehran’s civilian nuclear program in Vienna last week... The Iranian official said France’s CMA CGM is the world’s third biggest shipping company which transports container goods and its first container ship will berth at Shahid Rajaei port in early August. 'The container ship, which will call at Shahid Rajaei port is the Andromeda. It is 363 meters (m) long with a draft of 15.5 m, which can carry 11,500 TEU of containers. It will unload its containers at the second terminal of Shahid Rajaei port,' he added. Idani stated that the Andromeda has started its journey from the Far East and is bound for the Persian Gulf. 'It has chosen 10 big ports for berthing along its way and since Shahid Rajaei port enjoys international standards for accommodating big vessels, the French ship has chosen it as one of its ports of call,' he added. The official noted that investments made in the development of Shahid Rajaei port in the past years have made it a suitable destination for giant container-carrying vessels. Shahid Rajaei port is located 23 kilometers west of Bandar Abbas, the capital city of southern Iranian province of Hormozgan. The port is equipped with 18 gantry cranes and 41 docks, which make it the biggest and most modern container port in Iran." (PressTV, "French container ship to call at southern Iranian port," 7/22/15)

--

"Tougher conditions led to AP Moller-Maersk's Maersk Line, the world's biggest container company, pulling out entirely from Iran last year, joining an exodus including the world's number two and three MSC and CMA CGM and smaller groups like Germany's Hapag-Lloyd." (Reuters, "Iran faces fresh trade heat as more shipping firms exit," 5/7/2013) 

--

"CMA CGM, the world's third-largest container shipping group, stopped exports from Iran in July and since September has been scanning all containers bound for Iran from the UAE." (Reuters, "Sanctions blowback crippling Iran's shipping trade," 12/1/2011)

--

"CMA CGM, the world's third-largest container shipping group, stopped export shipments from Iran in July and has been scanning all containers bound for the Islamic Republic since September, the French company said onWednesday... 'In July 2011 the CMA CGM group decided to stop all exports out of Iran,' the company said in an emailed statement to Reuters on Wednesday... CMA CGM had said in a note to customers in September it was introducing a scanning process from Khor Fakkan for all Iranian inbound container cargo, 'in order to maintain a safe service in regards of the international sanctions'... The shipping restrictions introduced by CMA CGM come after its announcement in June of extra security checks covering its activities in Iran, including the creation of an 'Iran Compliance Desk'. CMA CGM was criticised by certain members of the U.S. Congress for lax security in Iran after an arms seizure in March by Israel aboard one of the firm's ships, which the Israelis said concerned Iranian-supplied weapons bound for Gaza. The French group said it was the victim of a false freight declaration and was not accused of wrongdoing by Israel." (Reuters, "UPDATE 1-French shipper CMA CGM stops exporting from Iran," 11/30/2011)

--

CMA CGM’s website lists two offices in Iran – an agency in Bandar Abbas and a head office in Tehran. Both are listed under the Jahan Darya Shipping Agency (CMA CGM Website).

Line Services

CMA CGM’s Cimex 1 Line travels between major East Asian ports [China, South Korea] and the Persian Gulf, stopping in Bandar Abbas and advertising “direct service to Iran.” The route is operated weekly by six vessels over 42 days (Cimex 1 Line Info).

CMA CGM’s Gulf Emirates Qatar Feeder Line is a triangular route between Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Iran’s Bushehr Container Terminal. The route is operated weekly by two vessels over 14 days (Gulf Emirates Qatar Feeder Line Info).

CMA CGM’s Swahili Express Line is a triangular route between East African ports, India, and the Persian Gulf, including Bandar Abbas. The route is operated every nine days by five vessels (Swahili Express Line Info).

Uses Tidewater Middle East Co.’s private terminals in the Shahid Rajaee Port Complex. (Tidewater: Reflection of Tomorrow)

On June 23, 2011, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Tidewater Middle East Co. (“Tidewater”), Iran’s major port operator, in response to the fact that Tidewater is owned by the IRGC and used by the IRGC for illicit activities including weapons shipments. (U.S. Department of the Treasury Press Center,  “Treasury Sanctions Major Iranian Commercial Entities,” 6/23/11)  Tidewater is also sanctioned by the EU for being owned or controlled by the IRGC. (Official Journal or the European Union: Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2010)

Subsidiaries

CMA CGM’s wholly-owned subsidiary Delmas, which provides “intermodal services to and from Africa,” lists that it operates out of six Iranian ports: Asaluyeh, Bandar Abbas, Bandar Khomeini, Bandar Shahid Rejaie Sez, Bushehr Container Terminal, and Khorramshahr.

CMA CGM’s wholly-owned subsidiary ANL (Australia National Line), a cargo shipping company which ships “to/from and around Australia/New Zealand to anywhere in the world,” operates under ANL Singapore Pte Ltd in Iran. ANL East West Service covers Asia, the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Europe. Its ISC 1 line uses the port of Bandar Abbas. 

--

CMA CGM conducts extensive business with the U.S. CMA CGM America LLC, the company’s U.S. branch, is headquartered in Norfolk, VA. Its website advertises that CGM CMA America provides 21 North American services, has posted sustained double-digit growth, and it is among the top ten container shipping companies in the U.S. (CMA CGM America LLC).

--

CMA CGM has received over $18 million in US government contracts in the past decade, 97% of which came from the U.S. Navy (USAspending.gov).

--

In January 2010, CMA CGM started port operations in Iran’s Bushehr port. CMA CGM chose Bushehr “due to its reasonable infrastructure established in the past few years ” and “announced its readiness to work with Bushehr port after months of studying and gaining assurance about the Iranian ports capability in exporting, importing and transiting containers.” CMA CGM announced at the time that it would “increase its activities in the [Bushehr] port 10 times more than present (Tehran Times, "Giant shipping line starts operation in Bushehr", 1/9/10).”

--

Nigeria Incident – MV CMA CGM Everest
Iranian arms shipment to Africa

Violation: UN Security Council Resolution 1929 (Iran)

October 2010

• Nigerian authorities seized 13 shipping containers carrying illegal Iranian weaponry at Lagos’ Apapa Port. The containers included 107 mm artillery rockets (Katyushas), explosives and rifle ammunition. The arms were to be shipped next to Gambia, with the final destination of the cargo possibly the Gaza Strip.
• The MV CMA CGM Everest originally picked up the containers from the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. CMA CGM says it was victim of a false cargo declaration, claiming the weapons were shipped in packages labeled as “glass wool and pallets of stone” and that the Iranian shipper “does not appear on any forbidden persons listing” (AP, “Nigeria: Shipper confirms weapons came from Iran,” 10/30/10).
• In November, Nigeria reported the seizure of the illegal arms shipment to the UN Security Council, accusing Iran of violating UN Resolution 1929. The resolution bans Iran from "supplying, selling or transferring directly or indirectly from its territory or by its nationals… any arms or related material.” Two Nigeria-based members of the Qods Force, an elite unit of the IRGC, were implicated in the arms shipment. (Reuters, “Nigeria Reports Iran Arms Seizure to UN,” 11/16/10)

--

UAE Incident – ANL-Australia

North Korean arms shipment to Iran (potentially including BM-25 missile components)
Violation: UN Security Council Resolution 1874 (North Korea)

July 2009

• The UAE reportedly “seized a ship secretly carrying embargoed North Korean arms to Iran… The UAE reported the seizure to the UN sanctions committee responsible for vetting the implementation of measures, including an arms embargo, imposed against North Korea under Security Council resolution 1874 [banning all North Korean arms exports].”
• “The UAE reported the ship was carrying 10 containers of weapons and related items, including rocket-propelled grenades and ammunition [as well as detonators]. He [the UN diplomat] said the consignment had been ordered by Iran’s TSS, a company said to be linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps and previously subject to international bans on importing weapons-related items” (Financial Times, “‘N Korean arms for Iran’ seized by UAE,” 8/28/09).
• The weapons were carried on the Australian vessel, the ANL-Australia, which was flying under a Bahamian flag. ANL is a wholly-owned CMA-CGM subsidiary. The exporting company was an Italian shipper, Otim, which exported the items from its Shanghai office (loaded in Dalian, China). The cargo manifest reportedly said the shipment contained oil-boring machines.
• The UN Security Council sanctions committee reportedly conducted its own investigation into the violation, as well as the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (The Wall Street Journal, “Cargo of North Korea Matériel Is Seized en Route to Iran,” 8/31/09)
• In December 2009, the nature of the cargo was described for the first time, which included: “2,030 detonators for 122mm [short-range] rockets, as well as electric circuitry and a large quantity of solid-fuel propellant” (The Washington Post, “Arms smuggling heightens Iran fears,” 12/3/09)
• In December 2009, the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported Iran had postponed the test launch of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile because they had not received the delivery of key electronic components allegedly contained in the intercepted North Korean shipment. According to a diplomatic source, “The shipment of the electronic components was supposed to be part of the new agreement signed in late 2008 between Iran and North Korea for the continued supply of the new missile's technology.” The components are said to be for the BM-25 (or Musudan) missile, which has a target range of 2,500 to 3,500 kilometers, thus posing a threat to most of Europe. Pyongyang reportedly exported components to assemble 19 such missiles to Iran in 2005. The BM-25 would be Iran’s longest-range missile. (Kyodo News International, “Iran delays missile test due to row with N. Korea over parts delivery,” 12/6/09)
• In November 2010, the BM-25 missile transfer was revisited when new information was revealed in the WikiLeaks-released U.S. diplomatic cables. According to the cable, secret American intelligence assessments have concluded that Iran has obtained a cache of advanced missiles, based on a Russian design. The missiles would for the first time give Iran the capacity to strike at capitals in Western Europe or Moscow, and they could potentially carry a nuclear warhead. (The New York Times, “Iran Fortifies Its Arsenal With the Aid of North Korea,” 11/29/10)

"Iranian and German transportation ministers have signed six contracts for promotion of cooperation in marine, road and railway transportation. The first document, signed by Iranian Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and German Ministry of Transportation, concerns comprehensive transportation cooperation, the second document concerns joint statement for cooperation between the two ministries in ports and navigation. The third document foresees educational cooperation between Iranian Ministry of Roads and Urban Development and German Siemens Company, and the fourth protocol forecasts cooperation between Iranian Railway Company and German Thales Group." (SHANA, "Iran, Germany Sign 6 Transporation Documents," 10/24/2016).

--

"The contract was signed between Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company (IAANC) and French Thales Company, in the presence of Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhundi and French Minister of Transport Alain Vidalies in Tehran." (April 20, 2016)

--

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)