4 American companies charged with violating US sanctions on Iran

Officials have charged four companies and five people with violating U.S. sanctions on Iran just as America is trying to use those sanctions to persuade the Middle East nation to curb its nuclear ambitions.

The accused have been charged on 24 counts for facilitating the illegal export of technology such as, high-tech microelectronics, uninterruptible power supplies and other goods which are commonly used in military systems, to Iran, reported the CNN.

John Carlin, assistant attorney general for national security, said that the nine defendants have been charged with circumventing U.S. sanctions and illegally exporting controlled microelectronics to Iran. He observed that such violations could undermine sanctions and spoil U.S. foreign policy.

The firms charged in the indictment, which was unsealed on Friday, included, Houston-based Smart Power Systems Inc., Hosoda Taiwan Limited Corporation, Golsad Istanbul Trading Ltd. and the Faratel Corporation in Iran.

The people named in the indictment who are in the United States were Bahram Mechanic and Tooraj Faridi, both of Houston, and Khosrow Afghahi of Los Angeles.