The U.S. Department of Justice reports that four Chinese nationals have been charged with various federal crimes related to a years-long conspiracy to unlawfully export and smuggle U.S.-origin electronic components from the U.S. to Iran.
Beginning as early as May 2007, and continuing until at least July 2020 the defendants used several front companies in China to funnel dual-use U.S.-origin items, including electronics and components that could be utilized in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles, ballistic missile systems, and other military end uses, to sanctioned Iranian entities with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.