Petrom GmBH International Trade Ordered to Pay Fine and Denied Export Privileges for Unauthorized Exports and Conspiracy to Export Industrial Equipment to Iran

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that Petrom GmbH International Trade of Munich, Germany has been ordered to pay a civil penalty of $143,000 and its export privileges under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) have been denied for 20 years for violating and conspiring to violate the EAR for the unauthorized export and attempted export of industrial commodities from the United States to Iran via Germany.

In his Order imposing the fine and denial, BIS’s Acting Under Secretary ruled that Petrom had conspired to violate the EAR and solicited violations of the EAR in connection with the export and attempted export of tire manufacturing and other industrial commodities to Iran, via Germany in violation of the EAR.

Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions Regulations, virtually all exports to Iran of U.S.-origin commodities require an export license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of the Treasury. It is also unlawful to ship U.S. origin products to a third country and then re-export them to Iran without the necessary authorization from OFAC.

Acting Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Wendy L. Wysong commended the Miami Field Office of BIS’s Office of Export Enforcement for its efforts in this investigation.