A Virginia businessman was given a prison sentence for sending heavy machinery to Iran against U.S. sanctions. Jalal Hajavi was found guilty of conspiring to break the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.
If found guilty of export and smuggling charges, the defendants could have faced up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
Sanctions against Iran make it illegal to send goods or services to Iran. This includes the shipping industry. Oil tankers and cargo ships that fly the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran are part of Iran’s shipping industry.
These ships are either owned, controlled, chartered, or run directly or indirectly by the Government of Iran. As the case of Jalal Hajavi shows, breaking these rules can lead to legal implications.
What are the Consequences of Violating U.S. Sanctions on Iran
If someone breaks U.S. sanctions against Iran, it can have many effects, both on the person who broke the sanctions and on the people of Iran. Here are some of the effects:
- Humanitarian Impact: People in Iran may have to go through needless pain because of sanctions, especially when it comes to getting things they need to live, like food and medicine. Because of the sanctions, Iran can’t afford to buy humanitarian goods, which hurts Iranians’ right to health and their ability to get necessary drugs.
- Environmental Harm: The U.S. sanctions have made the environment in Iran worse and have made it harder for the government to deal with environmental problems in a good way. People have to keep using older cars that use more gas because of the sanctions. This means that Iran can’t get the tools and technology it needs to lower vehicle pollution.
- Economic Consequences: International banks and businesses may not want to do business with each other because they are afraid of getting hit with secondary U.S. sanctions. This is true even for humanitarian deals that are exempt from the sanctions. The income and health of the people in Iran could get even worse because of this.
- Legal Consequences: U.S. sanctions can have legal effects for those who break them. For example, Jalal Hajavi was sent to prison for sending heavy equipment to Iran against U.S. sanctions.