Professional Services

"The Berliner Law firm received this license to legally represent companies affilated with Iran's Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics, which had been sanctioned by the United States government for its involvement in Iran's ballistic missile program. The licensing documents were released over the law firm's objection, with OFAC determining that the law firm lacked 'sufficient justification for competitive harm,' except for the potential for embarrassment for representing a sanctioned entity." (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)

"This license authorized 540 Sports and Entertainment to place American basketball players on Iranian teams. When 540's owner, John Spencer, first received a phone call from an Iranian sports agent inquiring about such placements, he thought that the man was joking. But since then, he said, he has placed a number of professional players on teams in Iran. On average, the men were paid $7,000 to $40,000 per month, Mr. Spencer said. The United States has long supported such 'sports diplomacy,' and while relations between the United States and Iran are testy, Mr. Spencer said he found that everyday Iranians 'are fascinated with our culture, just as we should be fascinated with theirs.'" (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)

DQS is "an independent and competent management partner for companies of every size and all business sectors" (Company Website). They provide certification, inspection and assessment for a wide variety of management systems and processes, for purposes of "risk management, information security, and business excellence" (Company Website). DQS is a part of the DQS-UL Group, after a merger with the American company Underwriters Laboratories.

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DQS has an office in Tehran, called "DQS Middle East" (Company Website). The Iranian website of this venture is currently under construction. 

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On its website in its "Customer Database," DQS lists 428 customers for the Islamic Republic of Iran, including many companies active in Iran's sanctioned oil and gas industry. 

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More serious are DQS's ties to Amin Industrial Complex, an Iranian company and "leading manufacturer of cooler and air conditioner in Iran" (Amin Website). Amin Industrial Complex was singled out in the UN's report on "Individuals and Entities Involved in Nuclear or Ballistic Missile Activities," where Amin Industrial Complex was described as having "sought temperature controllers which may be used in nuclear research and operational/production facilities." Furthermore, the company "is owned or controlled by, or acts on behalf of, the [Iranian] Defense Industries Organization" (UN Report). 

Amin Industrial Complex prominently displays a scanned quality certification certificate from DQS (Amin Website), revealing that DQS has guaranteed the efficient operation of a company that is involved in procuring technology for the Iranian nuclear program. Amin Industrial Complex is openly listed on DQS's Customer Database (Company Website). 

Persis Consult has designed the offices for professional services giant, EY, located in Tehran, Iran. (2017)

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EY has agreed to be a Speaker at the 4th Europe-Iran Forum (“EIF4”) in Zürich on October 3-4, 2017.  According to its official website, EY is participating at EIF4 for the purpose of “bringing business leaders, policymakers, and members of the international press into direct conversation about the challenges, opportunities, and broader social responsibilities of commercial activity in Iran.”  (EIF4 Website, “An Unparalleled Project in ‘Business Diplomacy’”).  

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Ernst & Young was listed as a participant at the FT Iran Summit 2016 (the “Summit”) in London on March 9, 2016.

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On its website, Ernst & Young lists that it has an affiliate office, Tadvin Co./Tadvin Management Consultants, in Iran (Company Website, "Members of EYG and Its Affiliates," 7/31/09).

KPMG AG Partner Dr. Ulrich von Zanthier spoke at the 7th Banking & Business Forum Iran Europe (“the Forum”) at the Maritim Hotel in Berlin on October 18-19, 2018. (Maleki Website, “7th Banking & Business Forum Iran Europe”).

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April 2010: KPMG has ended its business relationships in Iran. (The New York Times, "Companies Feeling More Pressure to Cut Iran Ties," 4/24/10)

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"Bayat Rayan, a subsidiary of KMPG, has been operating in Iran since 1955. They are the number one international accounting firm in Iran, according to the company. KPMG also provides accounting and auditing services to the United States federal government."  From 2000-2009, the company was the recipient of $1.2 billion US federal funds.  Their business in Iran is currently active.  (The New York Times, "Profiting from Iran, and the US," 3/6/2010)

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Iran is part of KPMG’s MESA (Middle East & South Asia) region. Iran’s country profile lists that there are 60 KPMG professionals in Iran (KPMG Website, “Countries in KPMG’s MESA region”). “Bayat Rayan” is the member firm of the KPMG network representing the company in the country (KPMG, “Iran: Taxation of International Executives,” 2008).

In 2008, KPMG produced a 21-page Iran specific-report, "Taxation of International Executives" (KPMG, “Iran: Taxation of International Executives,” 2008).

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"In addition to its presence in UAE, KPMG is widely represented in the Middle East region and has offices in Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Iran." (KPMG Release, “KPMG in the UAE announces the results of their business intelligence survey,” 12/17/08)