USA

"Iranian pharmaceutical company Behestan Tolid has wrapped up partnership negotiations with Merck Sharp & Dohme and is waiting for the Health Ministry’s go-ahead to start licensed production, a partner of the Iranian firm said." (June 19, 2017)
 

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Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) is a subsidiary of German chemical and pharmaceutical Company  Merck KGaA.

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"A major U.S. pharmaceutical company, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) has signed a contract for the licensed production of medicines in Iran, head of Iran's Drug Importing Union, Nasser Riahi said, ISNA news agency reported on Feb. 25. The MSD is an American pharmaceutical company and is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. Its headquarters is currently located in the state of New Jersey. The company's revenues reportedly stood at $48 billion in 2011. It was established in 1891 as the United States subsidiary of the German company now known as Merck KGaA. Remarking on the new hopeful condition for Iran's pharmaceutical industry, Riahi said that ‘Iran has a high capacity for investment, in particular in the pharmaceutical industry.’ He forecasted that in the near future a number of companies from around the world will enter the Iran's market…’The U.S. MSD which is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world wants to manufacture its products under license in Iran,’ he said, adding that in order to gain the trust of the Iranian partner, the U.S. company has reduced its product prices by 30 to 40 percent. Riahi remarked that major Swiss-based multinational drug maker Novartis has started production in Iran and signed a contract. A Japanese company also has signed an agreement for the production of medicines in Iran, he added. He remarked that the MSD is the first U.S. drug company which has signed a cooperation contract with Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution…'About 50 percent of necessary raw material for producing the medicine is imported,' he added. Iran imported 16,000 tons of drugs worth $1.468 billion, during the previous Iranian calendar year (which ended on March 20).” (Trend, “U.S. pharmaceutical giant in Iran,” 2/26/14)

"Consulting firm Promontory Financial Group LLC has agreed to pay $15 million to New York’s banking regulator and refrain from certain new business with state-regulated banks for six months after being accused of whitewashing a report about sanctions compliance at Standard Chartered Bank. Promontory is the third consulting firm to settle with the New York Department of Financial Services over an alleged lack of independence in reports on bank transactions subject to U.S. sanctions against Iran and other countries." (August 18, 2015).

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"New York state’s financial regulator has expanded its investigation of conflicts of interest among bank consulting firms by subpoenaing two more of the advisers, a person familiar with the matter said. Promontory Financial Group LLC and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which advise clients on how to satisfy regulatory requirements, were sent subpoenas by the Department of Financial Services during the past several months, said the person, who asked not to be identified because the matter is confidential…The latest round of subpoenas includes a request for Washington, D.C.-based Promontory to provide information related to its own work with Standard Chartered Plc. (STAN) That bank agreed to pay $667 million last year to Lawsky’s department and other regulators to settle charges of violating U.S. laws concerning money transfers to Iran… In a statement, Promontory spokeswoman Debra Cope said: 'Promontory from time to time receives document requests in the form of subpoenas relating to client activities. Promontory does not disclose the nature of individual requests or scope of the inquiry.'" (Bloomberg, "Promontory, PwC Said to Be Subpoenaed by N.Y. Regulator," 9/13/13)

"Web-hosting service provider Web.com said a unit it acquired had provided domain-registration services to Iranian entities, and has since shut them down. The disclosure, made Friday in an earnings statement pursuant to sanctions law signed last year, said Network Solutions LLC, or NetSol, a unit Web.com acquired in October 2011, sold domain-registration services to three Iranian entities between 1999 and 2002. Domain-name registration services consist of accepting and processing applications for the registration, renewal and transfer of domain names through the company’s registrar, the disclosure said . . . NetSol provided the services to Valfajr 8th Shipping Line Co. SSK, which was placed under sanctions in 2008; the Iran Marine Industrial Co., which was designated in 2012; and the Islamic Republic of Iran Meteorological Organization, which Web.com said it thinks is an Iranian governmental entity. Web.com said NetSol locked the websites in May, preventing them from being viewed by the public, and it placed a transfer lock on the websites to prevent them from being moved to another registrar. It said it told the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control about the matter in June. The company last received payments from the Iranian entities in 2007, the filing said." (The Wall Street Journal, "Web-Hosting Firm Cuts off Iran Websites" 10/6/13)

Subsidiary of Symantec.

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The French investigative publication Reflets has discovered that the American company Blue Coat is currently providing the government of Syrian leader Bashar Al-Assad and that of the Islamic Republic of Iran with software to filter and spy on their countries’ Internet activities in contravention of U.S. law. (Daily Dot, "U.S. company allegedly caught aiding Syria and Iran in censorship efforts," 12/11/2015).

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"Although Blue Coat tools have been identified in Syria in the past, the new research indicates that the government of President Bashar al-Assad has more of the monitoring devices than previously known... Experts say that in Syria, Blue Coat’s tools have been used to censor Web sites and monitor the communications of dissidents, activists and journalists. In Iran and Sudan, it remains unclear exactly how the technologies are being used, but experts say the tools could empower repressive governments to spy on opponents... Blue Coat promotes itself as a leading provider of Web security and management. According to its Web site, it has 15,000 government and corporate customers worldwide... Some technology experts, however, have argued that because Blue Coat’s tools have various uses, they fall into regulatory gaps and are thus not subject to certain export restrictions. 'The only thing stopping the export of human-rights-abusing equipment to a country like Sudan is the blanket restriction on exports under the sanctions program,' said Collin Anderson, an independent consultant on the Blue Coat report, which is to be released Tuesday. 'There are no controls in place right now on equipment that can also be used to violate human rights.' David Murphy, Blue Coat’s chief operating officer and president, said the company takes reports about its products in countries under U.S. trade embargoes very seriously. The firm, he noted, is cooperating with a U.S. investigation into how a reseller managed to get the devices into Syria on a few occasions in 2010 and 2011... Blue Coat has attracted particular scrutiny from the Citizen Lab, whose latest report marks the third time it has found the firm’s technology in countries with governments linked to human rights abuses. In its investigation, the Citizen Lab focused on two Blue Coat devices: ProxySG and PacketShaper. The tools can be used for Web filtering and traffic analysis and can help users view certain types of encrypted traffic, capabilities that are useful both to network security technicians and spy agencies... Blue Coat’s filtering tools were first discovered in Syria in 2011 by a 'hacktivist' group, prompting a Commerce Department probe and, in April, a $2.8 million civil fine for one of the firm’s distributors in Dubai... In a statement to The Post, Blue Coat said, 'Even when our products are unlawfully diverted to embargoed countries without our knowledge, we use various techniques to limit our products from receiving updates or support from our servers or support personnel.' Researchers said that blocking ability suggests the company can identify the location of its tools; Blue Coat declined to comment... The Citizen Lab said it detected the presence of Blue Coat’s devices on several networks, including one belonging to the Information Technology Co., which is partially owned by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps. The elite unit is believed to be heavily involved in Iran’s censorship of the Internet. In Sudan, the Citizen Lab identified the Blue Coat devices on the networks of commercial Internet service provider Canar Telecom... The Citizen Lab said it has found Blue Coat devices in at least a dozen other countries that have poor human rights records, although those countries are not necessarily subject to U.S. sanctions... Blue Coat, the latest report noted, showed an ability 'to turn principles into practice' this year when it removed the 'lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender' category from its Web filter after civil-society groups raised concerns over the discriminatory nature of such a category and its use by the Defense Department and other institutions" (Washington Post, "Web Monitoring Devices Made by U.S. Firm Blue Coat Detected in Iran, Sudan," 07/08/2013)

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According to its Annual Report filed with the SEC for fiscal year 2013: "Ashland, indirectly through a subsidiary, owns 50% of the equity interests in ASK Chemicals GmbH (ASK), and Ashland has the right to appoint, and has appointed, two out of the five directors on the ASK supervisory board. For the period commencing October 1, 2012 and ending June 30, 2013, two subsidiaries of ASK sold granulate, coatings and hot top products to certain Iranian entities. Based on information available to Ashland, Ashland has reason to believe that some or all of these entities are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Government of Iran. The gross revenues and net profits attributable to such sales during the six months ended March 31, 2013, were approximately €715,000 and €75,000, respectively and during the three months ended June 30, 2013, were approximately €179,500 and €12,700, respectively.

In March 2013, the ASK supervisory board unanimously resolved to terminate and refrain from engaging in, and to cause all of ASK’s subsidiaries to terminate and refrain from engaging in, any transactions or activities with Iran, including transactions or activities prohibited by, or requiring disclosure under, ITRSHRA. Accordingly, ASK and all of its subsidiaries have terminated all business with or in Iran. None of Ashland or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, including ASK and its subsidiaries, which may be considered affiliates of Ashland, has any intention to continue this activity or engage in any activity prohibited by, or requiring disclosure under, ITRSHRA."

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"Ashland Inc. (ASH), the biggest producer of specialty papermaking chemicals, said a 50-50 joint venture with Switzerland's Clariant AG (CLN) sold products to Iran without the approval of the U.S. government. Units of the ASK Chemicals GmbH venture sold "granulate, coatings and hot top products" from Oct. 1 through March 1 to entities that may be owned or controlled by the Iranian government, Covington, Kentucky-based Ashland said today in its 10-Q filing. The products generated 715,000 euros ($934,000) of sales and 75,000 euros of profit, Ashland said. The products are used in metal casting, said Gary Rhodes, an Ashland spokesman. ASK's supervisory board unanimously voted in March to end transactions with Iran and ASK is terminating all business in the country, Ashland said in the filing." (Bloomberg, "Ashland Says Joint Venture Sold Products to Iran," 5/2/13)

Crowe Horwath confirmed its status as a "Corresponding Member" in Iran in the April 2010 issue of the International Accounting Bulletin.  

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Crowe Horwath lists partner firms in Iran on its company website. ("Our Locations," Company website)

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"RSM, a UK-based firm, and Crowe Horwath of the US have joined Grant Thornton, one of the second-tier international accountancy firms, in leaving Iran after coming under US political pressure... RSM said it would cease working with Dayarayan Auditing & Financial Services, while Crowe Horwath said it would cut ties with Hoshiyar/Behmand & Co." (Financial Times, "Three accounting firms pull out of Iran," 4/26/2013) 

Buehler LTD is affiliated with Buehler GmbH, located in Dusseldorf, Germany

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In 2008, Buehler was assessed a penalty of $200,000 by the U.S. Department of Commerce for using its German affiliate (Buehler GmbH) to reexport a chemical product mixture called Coolmet from Germany to Iran without U.S. permission. Such reexportation without permission is a violation U.S. Export Administrations Regulations. (United States Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, "Order Relating to Buehler Limited," 2008)

Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 company specializing in diesel engines and generators.  Cummins Inc. also owns a number of companies and brands producing filtration products, fuel systems, air handling, and emissions control systems.  

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Cummins Inc. and its subsidiaries Cummins Filtration and Cummins Turbo Technologies list Iran on their respective regions of business. (Cummins: Worldwide Service Locator)  (Cummins Filtration: Retail Locator”) (Cummins Turbo Technologies: Nearest Holset Distributor)

Cummins Inc. has completed multiple projects with numerous Iranian partners as late as 2006, supplying machinery for subway tunnel construction, dam construction, and oil field development.  (Cummins Niroo: Case Histories)

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Cummins Inc. supplies diesel engines to numerous automakers currently or formerly involved in Iran, including Volvo Trucks, Iveco, and CNH.  Cummins Inc. has entered into joint ventures with two Chinese manufacturers that currently do business in Iran, Guanxi LiuGong Machinery Co. Ltd and Dongfeng Motor Corporation. Dongfeng Motor Corporation is partnered with IDRO's Saipa Group and manufactured over 4,500 trucks in Iran in 2010 alone.  (Liugong: News) (IVMA: 2010 Production Statistics)

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Numerous Iranian firms advertise Cummins Inc.'s products, including: 

• Raad Engineering Group, which lists a sale of Cummins machinery to the EU, U.S. and UN-sanctioned Khatam Al-Anbiya (Raad Engineering Group: Projects)
• Cummins Niroo Co. prominently displays the Cummins logo and provides case histories of Cummins projects in Iran (Cummins Niroo Co.)
• RieanPishro Co. lists a wide range of Cummins generators (RieanPishro Co.: Archives)
• Parsian Diesel Power Plant Development Co. lists a wide range of Cummins generators (Parsian-Ind.)
• Omrab Engineering Company provides profiles of construction projects that used Cummins products  (Omrab: Oil & Gas Utilities) 

"New Jersey-based Lawrenceville Plasma Physics Inc and Tehran's Islamic Azad University will jointly design a fusion machine that 'would be affordable to construct in industrializing nations', according to a contract signed last weekend and seen by The Guardian... Sceptics doubt whether US trade sanctions will permit the collaboration. But LPP claimed in a written statement that the pact qualifies as an official US department of treasury exemption 'which authorizes collaborating with academics and research institutions on the … creation and enhancement of written publications.' LPP is scheduled to notify the president's  council of advisors on science and technology of its Iranian partnership at 2pm ET on Friday in Washington DC... LPP is one of several small companies that believe they can crack fusion far sooner than can ITER or the National Ignition Facility (NIF), another international behemoth, based in Livermore, California. Two months ago, LPP reported a breakthrough when it confined a gas at 1.8bn degrees C, much higher than the industry record of 1.1bn degrees C that had stood since 1978... LPP and Azad University are developing 'aneutronic' fusion, which would not rely on neutrons. It would eliminate turbines by providing electricity directly through charged ions." (The Guardian, "Iranian team to collaborate with US company on nuclear fusion project," 5/25/2012)

"Baghdasarian was president of Delfin Group USA, a Russian-owned producer and supplier of synthetic motor oils that solidified its U.S. presence in the North Charleston area in 2008 with a $55 million renovation to an old Shell Oil plant it had bought for $20 million... According to prosecutors, one of those unidentified businessmen was Baghdasarian's agent in Iran and also represented a company in the United Arab Emirates used to ship Delfin products to Iran... In August 2011, Delfin USA tried to send aviation engine lubricating oils worth $850,000 to an associate in the UAE, according to Hardin." (Bloomberg Businessweek, "Feds: SC businessman illegally exported to Iran," 5/23/2012)