Department of Commerce Adds Five Iranian Entities to the Entity List

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today announced an amendment of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to add five Iranian entities to the Entity List. The Entity List is a compilation of end-users that present an unacceptable risk of using or diverting certain items to activities related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD). BIS requires a license for most exports or reexports to these entities with a presumption of denial.

"Updating the Entity List increases awareness and supports the exporting community’s critical role in preventing the inappropriate diversion of U.S.-controlled technology to WMD activities. The challenges posed by Iran are particularly complex and urgent, and this Entity List update strengthens our government’s ability to meet those challenges," said Mario Mancuso, Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security.

The Entities listed are: Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (a.k.a. Sazeman-E Energy Atomi), Mesbah Energy Company (a.k.a. "MEC"), Kala Electric Company (a.k.a. Kalaye Electric Company), Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group (a.k.a. "SHIG"), and Shahid Bakeri Industrial Group (a.k.a. "SBIG").

Of the five entities, three are involved in prohibited nuclear activities and two are involved in prohibited rocket systems and unmanned aerial vehicle activities. Adding these organizations to the BIS Entity List follows United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737, which requires the imposition of sanctions, and Executive Order 13382, which imposes financial sanctions administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control on the five entities.