Order Renewing Order Temporarily Denying Export Privileges; Mahan Airways, et al., 4871-4875 [2014-01835]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 20 / Thursday, January 30, 2014 / Notices
The Census Bureau will release a
public use file for availability to general
data users via its Web site, with the
ability to match to the 2014 SIPP publicuse file.
Dated: January 24, 2014.
Gwellnar Banks,
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
II. Method of Collection
BILLING CODE 3511–07–P
The SSA Supplement will use the
Computer Assisted Telephone Interview
(CATI) mode of data collection. The
SSA Supplement will be conducted as
one interview per person once per SIPP
Panel, after the completion of Wave 1
interviews. The interviews for the SSA
Supplement will be conducted via the
Census Bureau’s three telephone centers
with all household members 15 years
old or over using regular proxyrespondent rules. The SSA Supplement
interviews are expected to last 2 to 3
months beginning in September 2014.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0607–XXXX.
Form Number: SSA Supplement/
CATI Automated Instrument.
Type of Review: Regular.
Affected Public: Individuals or
households.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
73,500.
Estimated Time per Response: 30
minutes.
Estimated Total Annual Burden
Hours: 36,750.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: The
only cost to respondents is their time.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Title 13, United
States Code, Section 8(b) and Section
1110 of the Social Security Act.
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IV. Request for Comments
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether
the proposed collection of information
is necessary for the proper performance
of the functions of the agency, including
whether the information shall have
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency’s estimate of the burden
(including hours and cost) of the
proposed collection of information; (c)
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
burden of the collection of information
on respondents, including through the
use of automated collection techniques
or other forms of information
technology.
Comments submitted in response to
this notice will be summarized and/or
included in the request for OMB
approval of this information collection;
they also will become a matter of public
record.
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[FR Doc. 2014–01755 Filed 1–29–14; 8:45 am]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
Order Renewing Order Temporarily
Denying Export Privileges; Mahan
Airways, et al.
In the matter of:
Mahan Airways, Mahan Tower, No. 21,
Azadegan St., M.A. Jenah Exp. Way,
Tehran, Iran;
Zarand Aviation, a/k/a GIE Zarand Aviation,
42 Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris, France,
and 112 Avenue Kleber, 75116 Paris,
France;
Gatewick LLC, a/k/a Gatewick Freight &
Cargo Services, a/k/a/Gatewick Aviation
Services, G#22 Dubai Airport Free Zone,
P.O. Box 393754, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates, and P.O. Box 52404, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates, and Mohamed
Abdulla Alqaz Building, Al Maktoum
Street, Al Rigga, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates;
Pejman Mahmood Kosarayanifard, a/k/a
Kosarian Fard, P.O. Box 52404, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates;
Mahmoud Amini, G#22 Dubai Airport Free
Zone, P.O. Box 393754, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates, and P.O. Box 52404 Dubai,
United Arab Emirates and Mohamed
Abdulla Alqaz Building, Al Maktoum
Street, Al Rigga, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates;
Kerman Aviation, a/k/a GIE Kerman
Aviation, 42 Avenue Montaigne 75008,
Paris, France;
Sirjanco Trading LLC, P.O. Box 8709, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates;
Ali Eslamian, 4th Floor, 33 Cavendish
Square, London, W1G0PW, United
Kingdom, and 2 Bentinck Close, Prince
Albert Road St. Johns Wood, London
NW87RY, United Kingdom;
Mahan Air General Trading LLC, 19th Floor
Al Moosa Tower One, Sheik Zayed Road,
Dubai 40594, United Arab Emirates;
Skyco (UK) Ltd., 4th Floor, 33 Cavendish
Square, London, W1G 0PV, United
Kingdom;
Equipco (UK) Ltd., 2 Bentinck Close, Prince
Albert Road, London, NW8 7RY, United
Kingdom;
Mehdi Bahrami, Mahan Airways- Istanbul
Office, Cumhuriye Cad. Sibil Apt No: 101
D:6, 34374 Emadad, Sisli Istanbul, Turkey.
Order Renewing Order Temporarily
Denying Export Privileges
Pursuant to Section 766.24 of the
Export Administration Regulations, 15
CFR Parts 730–774 (2013) (‘‘EAR’’ or the
‘‘Regulations’’), I hereby grant the
request of the Office of Export
Enforcement (‘‘OEE’’) to renew the July
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4871
31, 2013 Order Temporarily Denying the
Export Privileges of Mahan Airways,
Zarand Aviation, Gatewick LLC, Pejman
Mahmood Kosarayanifard, Mahmoud
Amini, Kerman Aviation, Sirjanco
Trading LLC, Ali Eslamian, Mahan Air
General Trading LLC, Skyco (UK) Ltd.,
Equipco (UK) Ltd., and Mehdi Bahrami.
I find that renewal of the Temporary
Denial Order (‘‘TDO’’) is necessary in
the public interest to prevent an
imminent violation of the EAR.
I. Procedural History
On March 17, 2008, Darryl W.
Jackson, the then-Assistant Secretary of
Commerce for Export Enforcement
(‘‘Assistant Secretary’’), signed a TDO
denying Mahan Airways’ export
privileges for a period of 180 days on
the grounds that its issuance was
necessary in the public interest to
prevent an imminent violation of the
Regulations. The TDO also named as
denied persons Blue Airways, of
Yerevan, Armenia (‘‘Blue Airways of
Armenia’’), as well as the ‘‘Balli Group
Respondents,’’ namely, Balli Group
PLC, Balli Aviation, Balli Holdings,
Vahid Alaghband, Hassan Alaghband,
Blue Sky One Ltd., Blue Sky Two Ltd.,
Blue Sky Three Ltd., Blue Sky Four Ltd.,
Blue Sky Five Ltd., and Blue Sky Six
Ltd., all of the United Kingdom. The
TDO was issued ex parte pursuant to
Section 766.24(a), and went into effect
on March 21, 2008, the date it was
published in the Federal Register.
The TDO subsequently has been
renewed in accordance with Section
766.24(d), including most recently on
July 31, 2013.1 As of March 9, 2010, the
Balli Group Respondents and Blue
Airways were no longer subject to the
TDO. As part of the February 25, 2011
TDO renewal, Gatewick LLC, Mahmoud
Amini, and Pejman Mahmood
Kosarayanifard (‘‘Kosarian Fard’’) were
added as related persons in accordance
with Section 766.23 of the Regulations.
On July 1, 2011, the TDO was modified
by adding Zarand Aviation as a
respondent in order to prevent an
imminent violation. Specifically,
Zarand Aviation owned an Airbus A310
subject to the Regulations that was being
operated for the benefit of Mahan
Airways in violation of both the TDO
1 The July 31, 2013 Order was published in the
Federal Register on August 7, 2013. 78 Fed. Reg.
48138 (Aug. 7, 2013). The TDO previously had been
renewed on September 17, 2008, March 16, 2009,
September 11, 2009, March 9, 2010, September 3,
2010, February 25, 2011, August 24, 2011, February
15, 2012, August 9, 2012, and February 4, 2013. The
August 24, 2011 renewal followed the modification
of the TDO on July 1, 2011, which added Zarand
Aviation as a respondent. Each renewal or
modification order was published in the Federal
Register.
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and the Regulations. As part of the
August 24, 2011 renewal, Kerman
Aviation, Sirjanco Trading LLC, and Ali
Eslamian were added to the TDO as
related persons. Mahan Air General
Trading LLC, Skyco (UK) Ltd., and
Equipco (UK) Ltd. were added as related
persons on April 9, 2012. Mehdi
Bahrami was added to the TDO as a
related person as part of the February 4,
2013 renewal order.
On December 30, 2013, BIS, through
its Office of Export Enforcement
(‘‘OEE’’), submitted a written request for
renewal of the TDO. The current TDO
dated July 31, 2013, will expire on
January 27, 2014, unless renewed on or
before that date. Notice of the renewal
request was provided to Mahan Airways
and Zarand Aviation by delivery of a
copy of the request in accordance with
Sections 766.5 and 766.24(d) of the
Regulations. No opposition to any
aspect of the renewal of the TDO has
been received from either Mahan
Airways or Zarand Aviation.
Furthermore, no appeal of the related
person determinations I made as part of
the September 3, 2010, February 25,
2011, August 24, 2011, April 9, 2012,
and February 4, 2013 renewal or
modification orders has been made by
Gatewick LLC, Kosarian Fard,
Mahmoud Amini, Kerman Aviation,
Sirjanco Trading LLC, Ali Eslamian,
Mahan Air General Trading LLC, Skyco
(UK) Ltd., Equipco (UK) Ltd., or Mehdi
Bahrami.2
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II. Renewal of the TDO
A. Legal Standard
Pursuant to Section 766.24, BIS may
issue or renew an order temporarily
denying a respondent’s export privileges
upon a showing that the order is
necessary in the public interest to
prevent an ‘‘imminent violation’’ of the
Regulations. 15 CFR §§ 766.24(b)(1) and
776.24(d). ‘‘A violation may be
‘imminent’ either in time or degree of
likelihood.’’ 15 CFR § 766.24(b)(3). BIS
may show ‘‘either that a violation is
about to occur, or that the general
circumstances of the matter under
investigation or case under criminal or
administrative charges demonstrate a
likelihood of future violations.’’ Id. As
to the likelihood of future violations,
BIS may show that the violation under
investigation or charge ‘‘is significant,
deliberate, covert and/or likely to occur
again, rather than technical or negligent
[.]’’ Id. A ‘‘lack of information
2 A party named or added as a related person may
not oppose the issuance or renewal of the
underlying temporary denial order, but may file an
appeal of the related person determination in
accordance with Section 766.23(c).
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establishing the precise time a violation
may occur does not preclude a finding
that a violation is imminent, so long as
there is sufficient reason to believe the
likelihood of a violation.’’ Id.
B. The TDO and BIS’s Request for
Renewal
OEE’s request for renewal is based
upon the facts underlying the issuance
of the initial TDO and the TDO renewals
in this matter and the evidence
developed over the course of this
investigation indicating a blatant
disregard of U.S. export controls and the
TDO. The initial TDO was issued as a
result of evidence that showed that
Mahan Airways and other parties
engaged in conduct prohibited by the
EAR by knowingly re-exporting to Iran
three U.S.-origin aircraft, specifically
Boeing 747s (‘‘Aircraft 1–3’’), items
subject to the EAR and classified under
Export Control Classification Number
(‘‘ECCN’’) 9A991.b, without the required
U.S. Government authorization. Further
evidence submitted by BIS indicated
that Mahan Airways was involved in the
attempted re-export of three additional
U.S.-origin Boeing 747s (‘‘Aircraft 4–6’’)
to Iran.
As discussed in the September 17,
2008 renewal order, evidence presented
by BIS indicated that Aircraft 1–3
continued to be flown on Mahan
Airways’ routes after issuance of the
TDO, in violation of the Regulations and
the TDO itself.3 It also showed that
Aircraft 1–3 had been flown in further
violation of the Regulations and the
TDO on the routes of Iran Air, an
Iranian Government airline. Moreover,
as discussed in the March 16, 2009,
September 11, 2009 and March 9, 2010
Renewal Orders, Mahan Airways
registered Aircraft 1–3 in Iran, obtained
Iranian tail numbers for them (including
EP–MNA and EP–MNB), and continued
to operate at least two of them in
violation of the Regulations and the
TDO,4 while also committing an
additional knowing and willful
violation of the Regulations and the
TDO when it negotiated for and
acquired an additional U.S.-origin
aircraft. The additional acquired aircraft
was an MD–82 aircraft, which
subsequently was painted in Mahan
Airways’ livery and flown on multiple
Mahan Airways’ routes under tail
number TC–TUA.
3 Engaging in conduct prohibited by a denial
order violates the Regulations. 15 CFR §§ 764.2(a)
and (k).
4 The third Boeing 747 appeared to have
undergone significant service maintenance and may
not have been operational at the time of the March
9, 2010 renewal order.
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The March 9, 2010 Renewal Order
also noted that a court in the United
Kingdom (‘‘U.K.’’) had found Mahan
Airways in contempt of court on
February 1, 2010, for failing to comply
with that court’s December 21, 2009 and
January 12, 2010 orders compelling
Mahan Airways to remove the Boeing
747s from Iran and ground them in the
Netherlands. Mahan Airways and the
Balli Group Respondents had been
litigating before the U.K. court
concerning ownership and control of
Aircraft 1–3. In a letter to the U.K. court
dated January 12, 2010, Mahan Airways’
Chairman indicated, inter alia, that
Mahan Airways opposes U.S.
Government actions against Iran, that it
continued to operate the aircraft on its
routes in and out of Tehran (and had
158,000 ‘‘forward bookings’’ for these
aircraft), and that it wished to continue
to do so and would pay damages if
required by that court, rather than
ground the aircraft.
The September 3, 2010 renewal order
discussed the fact that Mahan Airways’
violations of the TDO extended beyond
operating U.S.-origin aircraft in
violation of the TDO and attempting to
acquire additional U.S.-origin aircraft.
In February 2009, while subject to the
TDO, Mahan Airways participated in
the export of computer motherboards,
items subject to the Regulations and
designated as EAR99, from the United
States to Iran, via the United Arab
Emirates (‘‘UAE’’), in violation of both
the TDO and the Regulations, by
transporting and/or forwarding the
computer motherboards from the UAE
to Iran. Mahan Airways’ violations were
facilitated by Gatewick LLC, which not
only participated in the transaction, but
also has stated to BIS that it acts as
Mahan Airways’ sole booking agent for
cargo and freight forwarding services in
the UAE.
Moreover, in a January 24, 2011 filing
in the U.K. court, Mahan Airways
asserted that Aircraft 1–3 were not being
used, but stated in pertinent part that
the aircraft were being maintained in
Iran especially ‘‘in an airworthy
condition’’ and that, depending on the
outcome of its U.K. court appeal, the
aircraft ‘‘could immediately go back into
service . . . on international routes into
and out of Iran.’’ Mahan Airways’
January 24, 2011 submission to U.K.
Court of Appeal, at p. 25, ¶¶ 108, 110.
This clearly stated intent, both on its
own and in conjunction with Mahan
Airways’ prior misconduct and
statements, demonstrated the need to
renew the TDO in order to prevent
imminent future violations. Two of
these three 747s subsequently were
removed from Iran and are no longer in
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Mahan Airway’s possession. The third
of these 747s, with Manufacturer’s
Serial Number (‘‘MSN’’) 23480 and
Iranian tail number EP–MNE, remains
in Iran under Mahan’s control. Pursuant
to Executive Order 13324, it was
designated a Specially Designated
Global Terrorist (‘‘SDGT’’) by the U.S.
Department of the Treasury’s Office of
Foreign Assets Control (‘‘OFAC’’) on
September 19, 2012.5 Furthermore, as
discussed in the February 4, 2013 Order,
open source information indicated that
this 747, which is painted in the livery
and logo of Mahan Airways, has been
flown between Iran and Syria, and is
suspected of ferrying weapons and/or
other equipment to the Syrian
Government from Iran’s Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps. Open
source information shows this aircraft
remains in active operation in Mahan
Airways’ fleet and has been flown from
Iran to Syria as recently as June 30,
2013.
In addition, as first detailed in the
July 1, 2011 and August 24, 2011 orders,
and discussed in the subsequent
renewal orders in this matter, Mahan
Airways also has continued to evade
U.S. export control laws by operating
two Airbus A310 aircraft, bearing
Mahan Airways’ livery, colors and logo,
on flights into and out of Iran.6 The
aircraft are owned, respectively, by
Zarand Aviation and Kerman Aviation,
both of whose corporate registrations
list Mahan Air General Trading as a
member of their Groupement D’interet
Economique (‘‘Economic Interest
Group’’).7 At the time of the July 1, 2011
and August 24, 2011 Orders, these
Airbus A310s were registered in France,
with tail numbers F–OJHH and F–OJHI,
respectively. OEE subsequently
presented evidence that after the August
24, 2011 renewal, Mahan Airways and
Zarand Aviation worked in concert,
along with Kerman Aviation, to deregister the two Airbus A310 aircraft in
France and to register both aircraft in
Iran (with, respectively, Iranian tail
numbers EP–MHH and EP–MHI). It was
determined subsequent to the February
15, 2012 renewal order that the
5 See https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/
sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/pages/
20120919.aspx.
6 The Airbus A310s are powered with U.S.-origin
engines. The engines are subject to the EAR and
classified under Export Control Classification
(‘‘ECCN’’) 9A991.d. The Airbus A310s contain
controlled U.S.-origin items valued at more than 10
percent of the total value of the aircraft and as a
result are subject to the EAR. They are classified
under ECCN 9A991.b. The reexport of these aircraft
to Iran requires U.S. Government authorization
pursuant to Section 746.7 of the Regulations.
7 Kerman Aviation’s corporate registration also
lists Mahan Aviation Services Company as an
additional member of its Economic Interest Group.
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registration switch for these A310s was
cancelled; however, both aircraft
continued to actively fly for Mahan
Airways under the original French tail
numbers.
In addition to Mahan Airways’
continued unlawful operation and/or
possession of these two A310s, as well
as the remaining 747 (MSN 23480 and
Iranian tail number EP–MNE) discussed
above, the August 2012 renewal order
found that Mahan Airways had acquired
another Airbus A310 aircraft subject to
the Regulations,8 with MSN 499 and
Iranian tail number EP–VIP, in violation
of the TDO and the Regulations. On
September 19, 2012, all three Airbus
A310 aircraft (tail numbers F–OJHH, F–
OJHI, and EP–VIP) were designated as
SDGTs.9
The February 4, 2013 Order laid out
further evidence of continued and
additional efforts by Mahan Airways
and other persons acting in concert with
Mahan, including Kral Aviation and
another Turkish company, to procure
U.S.-origin engines (MSNs 517621 and
517738) and other aircraft parts in
violation of the TDO and the
Regulations.10 The February 4, 2013
renewal order also added Mehdi
Bahrami as a related person in
accordance with Section 766.23 of the
Regulations. Bahrami, a Mahan VicePresident and the head of Mahan’s
Istanbul Office, also was involved in
Mahan’s acquisition of the original three
Boeing 747s (Aircraft 1–3) that resulted
in the original TDO, and has had a
business relationship with Mahan
dating back to 1997.
The July 31, 2013 Order detailed
additional evidence obtained by OEE
8 See
note 6, supra.
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/
sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/pages/
20120919.aspx. Mahan Airways was previously
designated by OFAC as a SDGT on October 18,
2011. 77 FR 64,427 (October 18, 2011).
10 Kral Aviation was referenced in the February
4, 2013 Order as ‘‘Turkish Company No. 1.’’ Kral
Aviation purchased a GE CF6–50C2 aircraft engine
(MSN517621) from the United States in July 2012,
on behalf of Mahan Airways. OEE was able to
prevent this engine from reaching Mahan by issuing
a redelivery order to the freight forwarder in
accordance with Section 758.8 of the Regulations.
OEE also issued Kral Aviation a redelivery order for
the second CF6–50C2 engine (MSN 517738) on July
30, 2012. The owner of the second engine
subsequently cancelled the item’s sale to Kral
Aviation. In September 2012, OEE was alerted by
a U.S. exporter that another Turkish company
(‘‘Turkish Company No. 2’’) was attempting to
purchase aircraft spare parts intended for re-export
by Turkish Company No. 2 to Mahan Airways. See
February 4, 2013 Order.
On December 31, 2013, Kral Aviation was added
to BIS’s Entity List, Supplement No. 4 to Part 744
of the Regulations. See 78 Fed. Reg.75458 (Dec. 12,
2013). Companies and individuals are added to the
Entity List for engaging in activities contrary to the
national security or foreign policy interests of the
United States. See 15 CFR § 744.11.
9 See
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4873
showing efforts by Mahan Airways to
obtain another GE CF6–50C2 aircraft
engine (MSN 528350) from the United
States via Turkey. Multiple Mahan
employees, including Mehdi Bahrami,
were involved in or aware of matters
related to the engine’s arrival in Turkey
from the United States, plans to visually
inspect the engine, and prepare it for
shipment from Turkey.
Mahan sought to obtain this U.S.origin engine through Pioneer Logistics
Havacilik Turizm Yonetim Danismanlik
(‘‘Pioneer Logistics’’), an aircraft parts
supplier located in Turkey, and its
director/operator, Gulnihal Yegane, a
Turkish national who previously has
conducted Mahan related business with
Mehdi Bahrami and Ali Eslamian.
Moreover, as referenced in the July 31,
2013 Order, a sworn affidavit by Kosol
Surinanda, also known as Kosol
Surinandha, Managing Director of
Mahan’s General Sales Agent in
Thailand, stated that the shares of
Pioneer Logistics for which he is the
listed owner are ‘‘actually the property
of and owned by Mahan.’’ He further
stated that he held ‘‘legal title to the
shares until otherwise required by
Mahan’’ but would ‘‘exercise the rights
granted to [him] exactly and only as
instructed by Mahan and [his] vote and/
or decisions [would] only and
exclusively reflect the wills and
demands of Mahan[.]’’ 11
OEE’s current renewal request
includes evidence discovered or
obtained after the July 31, 2013 Order
was issued that further establishes
Mahan’s continued efforts to evade and
violate the TDO and the Regulations,
including through efforts to further
expand its network of procurement
agents. OEE has obtained evidence
confirming an attempt by Mahan, which
OEE thwarted, to obtain, via an
Indonesian aircraft parts supplier, two
U.S.-origin Honeywell ALF–502R–5
aircraft engines (MSNs LF5660 and
LF5325), items subject to the
Regulations, from a U.S. company
located in Texas. An invoice of the
Indonesian aircraft parts supplier dated
March 27, 2013, lists Mahan Airways as
the purchaser of the engines and
includes a Mahan ship-to address. OEE
also has obtained a Mahan air waybill
dated March 12, 2013, listing numerous
U.S.-origin aircraft parts, including, but
not limited to, a vertical navigation
gyroscope, a transmitter, and a power
control unit, items subject to the
Regulations, being transported by
11 Pioneer Logistics, Gulnihal Yegane, and Kosol
Surinanda also were added to the Entity List on
December 12, 2013. See 78 FR 75458 (Dec. 12,
2013).
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Mahan from Turkey to Iran in violation
of the TDO.
Finally, Mahan continues to
publically list in its active fleet both
U.S.-origin aircraft and aircraft such as
the Airbus A310, which, based on its
U.S.-origin engines, is subject to the
Regulations.
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C. Findings
Under the applicable standard set
forth in Section 766.24 of the
Regulations and my review of the entire
record, I find that the evidence
presented by BIS convincingly
demonstrates that Mahan Airways has
continually violated the EAR and the
TDO, that such knowing violations have
been significant, deliberate and covert,
and that there is a likelihood of future
violations. The record includes further
evidence uncovered by OEE since the
July 31, 2013 Order regarding on-going
efforts by Mahan Airways in concert
with its far-reaching network of
affiliates and agents to procure EAR
items in violation of the TDO and the
Regulations. Therefore, renewal of the
TDO is necessary to prevent imminent
violation of the EAR and to give notice
to companies and individuals in the
United States and abroad that they
should continue to cease dealing with
Mahan Airways, Zarand Aviation, and
the other denied persons under the TDO
in export transactions involving items
subject to the EAR.
IV. Order
It is therefore ordered:
First, that MAHAN AIRWAYS, Mahan
Tower, No. 21, Azadegan St., M.A.
Jenah Exp. Way, Tehran, Iran; ZARAND
AVIATION A/K/A GIE ZARAND
AVIATION, 42 Avenue Montaigne,
75008 Paris, France, and 112 Avenue
Kleber, 75116 Paris, France; GATEWICK
LLC, A/K/A GATEWICK FREIGHT &
CARGO SERVICES, A/K/A GATEWICK
AVIATION SERVICE, G#22 Dubai
Airport Free Zone, P.O. Box 393754,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and P.O.
Box 52404, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates, and Mohamed Abdulla Alqaz
Building, Al Maktoum Street, Al Rigga,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates; PEJMAN
MAHMOOD KOSARAYANIFARD A/K/
A KOSARIAN FARD, P.O. Box 52404,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
MAHMOUD AMINI, G#22 Dubai
Airport Free Zone, P.O. Box 393754,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and P.O.
Box 52404, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates, and Mohamed Abdulla Alqaz
Building, Al Maktoum Street, Al Rigga,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates; KERMAN
AVIATION A/K/A GIE KERMAN
AVIATION, 42 Avenue Montaigne
75008, Paris, France; SIRJANCO
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18:24 Jan 29, 2014
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TRADING LLC, P.O. Box 8709, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates; ALI ESLAMIAN,
4th Floor, 33 Cavendish Square, London
W1G0PW, United Kingdom, and 2
Bentinck Close, Prince Albert Road, St.
Johns Wood, London NW87RY, United
Kingdom; MAHAN AIR GENERAL
TRADING LLC, 19th Floor Al Moosa
Tower One, Sheik Zayed Road, Dubai
40594, United Arab Emirates; SKYCO
(UK) LTD., 4th Floor, 33 Cavendish
Square, London, W1G 0PV, United
Kingdom; EQUIPCO (UK) LTD., 2
Bentinck Close, Prince Albert Road,
London, NW8 7RY, United Kingdom;
and MEHDI BAHRAMI, Mahan
Airways-Istanbul Office, Cumhuriye
Cad. Sibil Apt No: 101 D:6, 34374
Emadad, Sisli Istanbul, Turkey; and
when acting for or on their behalf, any
successors or assigns, agents, or
employees (each a ‘‘Denied Person’’ and
collectively the ‘‘Denied Persons’’) may
not, directly or indirectly, participate in
any way in any transaction involving
any commodity, software or technology
(hereinafter collectively referred to as
‘‘item’’) exported or to be exported from
the United States that is subject to the
Export Administration Regulations
(‘‘EAR’’), or in any other activity subject
to the EAR including, but not limited to:
A. Applying for, obtaining, or using
any license, License Exception, or
export control document;
B. Carrying on negotiations
concerning, or ordering, buying,
receiving, using, selling, delivering,
storing, disposing of, forwarding,
transporting, financing, or otherwise
servicing in any way, any transaction
involving any item exported or to be
exported from the United States that is
subject to the EAR, or in any other
activity subject to the EAR; or
C. Benefitting in any way from any
transaction involving any item exported
or to be exported from the United States
that is subject to the EAR, or in any
other activity subject to the EAR.
SECOND, that no person may, directly
or indirectly, do any of the following:
A. Export or reexport to or on behalf
of a Denied Person any item subject to
the EAR;
B. Take any action that facilitates the
acquisition or attempted acquisition by
a Denied Person of the ownership,
possession, or control of any item
subject to the EAR that has been or will
be exported from the United States,
including financing or other support
activities related to a transaction
whereby a Denied Person acquires or
attempts to acquire such ownership,
possession or control;
C. Take any action to acquire from or
to facilitate the acquisition or attempted
acquisition from a Denied Person of any
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
item subject to the EAR that has been
exported from the United States;
D. Obtain from a Denied Person in the
United States any item subject to the
EAR with knowledge or reason to know
that the item will be, or is intended to
be, exported from the United States; or
E. Engage in any transaction to service
any item subject to the EAR that has
been or will be exported from the
United States and which is owned,
possessed or controlled by a Denied
Person, or service any item, of whatever
origin, that is owned, possessed or
controlled by a Denied Person if such
service involves the use of any item
subject to the EAR that has been or will
be exported from the United States. For
purposes of this paragraph, servicing
means installation, maintenance, repair,
modification or testing.
THIRD, that, after notice and
opportunity for comment as provided in
section 766.23 of the EAR, any other
person, firm, corporation, or business
organization related to a Denied Person
by affiliation, ownership, control, or
position of responsibility in the conduct
of trade or related services may also be
made subject to the provisions of this
Order.
FOURTH, that this Order does not
prohibit any export, reexport, or other
transaction subject to the EAR where the
only items involved that are subject to
the EAR are the foreign-produced direct
product of U.S.-origin technology.
In accordance with the provisions of
Sections 766.24(e) of the EAR, Mahan
Airways and/or Zarand Aviation may, at
any time, appeal this Order by filing a
full written statement in support of the
appeal with the Office of the
Administrative Law Judge, U.S. Coast
Guard ALJ Docketing Center, 40 South
Gay Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202–
4022. In accordance with the provisions
of Sections 766.23(c)(2) and 766.24(e)(3)
of the EAR, Gatewick LLC, Mahmoud
Amini, Pejman Mahmood
Kosarayanifard, Kerman Aviation,
Sirjanco Trading LLC, Ali Eslamian,
Mahan Air General Trading LLC, Skyco
(UK) Ltd., Equipco (UK) Ltd., and/or
Mehdi Bahrami may, at any time, appeal
their inclusion as a related person by
filing a full written statement in support
of the appeal with the Office of the
Administrative Law Judge, U.S. Coast
Guard ALJ Docketing Center, 40 South
Gay Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202–
4022.
In accordance with the provisions of
Section 766.24(d) of the EAR, BIS may
seek renewal of this Order by filing a
written request not later than 20 days
before the expiration date. A renewal
request may be opposed by Mahan
Airways and/or Zarand Aviation as
E:\FR\FM\30JAN1.SGM
30JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 20 / Thursday, January 30, 2014 / Notices
provided in Section 766.24(d), by filing
a written submission with the Assistant
Secretary of Commerce for Export
Enforcement, which must be received
not later than seven days before the
expiration date of the Order.
A copy of this Order shall be provided
to Mahan Airways, Zarand Aviation and
each related person, and shall be
published in the Federal Register. This
Order is effective immediately and shall
remain in effect for 180 days.
margins for this review are listed in the
‘‘Final Results’’ section below.
DATES: Effective Date: January 30, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Sean Cary or Emily Halle, AD/CVD
Operations, Office VII, Enforcement and
Compliance, International Trade
Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230;
telephone: (202) 482–3964 or (202) 482–
0176, respectively.
Dated: January 24, 2014.
David W. Mills,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export
Enforcement.
Background
On July 10, 2013, the Department
published its Preliminary Results. On
August 9, 2013, Jiheng and Kangtai each
submitted a hearing request to address
issues raised in their case and rebuttal
case briefs. On August 15, 2013, the
Department extended the deadline for
the final results in this administrative
review until January 6, 2014.2 The
Department conducted a verification of
Kangtai between September 23 and
September 27, 2013.3 On November 29,
2013, Clearon Corporation and
Occidental Chemical Corporation
(collectively, Petitioners), Jiheng, and
Kangtai each submitted a case brief.4 On
December 4 and 5, 2013, Jiheng,
Petitioners, and Kangtai each submitted
a rebuttal case brief.5 On January 7,
2014, we held a public hearing to
address issues raised in the case and
rebuttal briefs.6
As explained in the memorandum
from the Assistant Secretary for
Enforcement and Compliance, the
Department has exercised its discretion
to toll deadlines for the duration of the
[FR Doc. 2014–01835 Filed 1–29–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
International Trade Administration
[A–570–898]
Chlorinated Isocyanurates from the
People’s Republic of China: Final
Results of Antidumping Duty
Administrative Review; 2011–2012
Enforcement and Compliance,
formerly Import Administration,
International Trade Administration,
Department of Commerce.
SUMMARY: On July 10, 2013, the
Department of Commerce (the
Department) published its Preliminary
Results of the 2011–2012 administrative
review of the antidumping duty order
on chlorinated isocyanurates (chloro
isos) from the People’s Republic of
China (PRC).1 The period of review
(POR) is June 1, 2011, through May 31,
2012. This review covers six producers/
exporters of subject merchandise: (1)
Arch Chemicals (China) Co. Ltd. (Arch
China); (2) Hebei Jiheng Chemical Co.,
Ltd. and Hebei Jiheng Baikang Chemical
Industry Co., Ltd. (collectively, Jiheng);
(3) Heze Huayi Chemical Co. Ltd.
(Heze); (4) Juancheng Kantgai Chemical
Co., Ltd. (collectively, Kangtai); (5)
Sinocarbon International Trading Co.,
Ltd. (Sinocarbon); and (6) Zhucheng
Taisheng Chemical Co., Ltd.
(Zhucheng). Jiheng and Kangtai are the
mandatory respondents. We invited
parties to comment on our Preliminary
Results. Based on our analysis of the
comments received, we made certain
changes to our margin calculations for
Jiheng and Kangtai. The final dumping
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
1 See Chlorinated Isocyanurates From the
People’s Republic of China: Preliminary Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review; 2011–
2012, 78 FR 41364 (July 10, 2013) (Preliminary
Results).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
18:24 Jan 29, 2014
Jkt 232001
2 See Memorandum to Christian Marsh, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Antidumping and
Countervailing Duty Operations, ‘‘Chlorinated
Isocyanurates from the People’s Republic of China:
Extension of Deadline for Final Results of
Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,’’
(August 15, 2013).
3 See Memorandum to the File, ‘‘Verification of
the Sales and Factors Response of Juancheng
Kangtai Chemical Co., Ltd. in the Antidumping
Review of Chlorinated Isocyanurates from the
People’s Republic of China,’’ (November 29, 2013).
4 See ‘‘Case Brief of Clearon Corp. and Occidental
Chemical Corporation,’’ (November 29, 2013);
‘‘Chlorinated Isocyanurates from China (Seventh
Administrative Review)—Hebei Jiheng Chemical
Co., Ltd. Case Brief,’’ (November 29, 2013) and;
‘‘Chlorinated Isocyanurates from the People’s
Republic of China Kangtai Case Brief,’’ (November
29, 2013).
5 See ‘‘Chlorinated Isocyanurates from China
(Seventh Administrative Review)—Hebei Jiheng
Chemical Co., Ltd. Rebuttal Brief,’’ (December 4,
2013); ‘‘Rebuttal Brief of Clearon Corp. And
Occidental Chemical Corporation,’’ (December 5,
2013); and ‘‘Chlorinated Isocyanurates from the
People’s Republic of China Kangtai Rebuttal Brief,’’
(December 5, 2013).
6 See ‘‘Public Hearing in the Matter of:
Administrative Review under the Antidumping
Duty Order on Chlorinated Isocyanurates from the
People’s Republic of China,’’ (January 7, 2014).
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
4875
closure of the Federal Government from
October 1, 2013, through October 16,
2013.7 Therefore, all deadlines in this
segment of the proceeding were
extended by 16 days. Therefore, the
revised deadline for the final results of
this review is January 22, 2014.
Scope of the Order
The products covered by the order are
chlorinated isos, which are derivatives
of cyanuric acid, described as
chlorinated s-triazine triones.
Chlorinated isos are currently
classifiable under subheadings
2933.69.6015, 2933.69.6021,
2933.69.6050, 3808.40.50, 3808.50.40
and 3808.94.5000 of the Harmonized
Tariff Schedule of the United States.8
Final Determination of No Shipments
For these final results of review, we
continue to find that Heze had no
shipments during the POR.9
Analysis of Comments Received
All issues raised in the case and
rebuttal briefs filed by parties in this
review are addressed in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum, which is hereby
adopted by this notice. A list of the
issues that parties raised and to which
we responded in the Issues and
Decision Memorandum follows as an
appendix to this notice. The Issues and
Decision Memorandum is a public
document and is on file electronically
via Enforcement and Compliance’s
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty
Centralized Electronic Service System
(IA ACCESS). IA ACCESS is available to
registered users at https://
iaaccess.trade.gov and in the Central
Records Unit, room 7046 of the main
Department of Commerce building. In
addition, a complete version of the
Issues and Decision Memorandum can
be accessed directly on the Internet at
https://enforcement.trade.gov/frn/. The
paper copy and electronic version of the
Issues and Decision Memorandum are
identical in content.
Changes Since the Preliminary Results
Based on a review of the record and
comments received from interested
parties regarding our Preliminary
7 See Memorandum for the Record from Paul
Piquado, Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and
Compliance, ‘‘Deadlines Affected by the Shutdown
of the Federal Government,’’ (October 18, 2013).
8 See Memorandum to Christian Marsh, Acting
Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance,
‘‘Chlorinated Isocyanurates from the People’s
Republic of China: Issues and Decision
Memorandum for the Final Results of the 2011–
2012 Antidumping Duty Administrative Review,’’
issued concurrently with this notice (Issues and
Decision Memorandum) for a complete description
of the scope of the Order.
9 See Preliminary Results, 78 FR 41364.
E:\FR\FM\30JAN1.SGM
30JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 20 (Thursday, January 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4871-4875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01835]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
Order Renewing Order Temporarily Denying Export Privileges; Mahan
Airways, et al.
In the matter of:
Mahan Airways, Mahan Tower, No. 21, Azadegan St., M.A. Jenah Exp.
Way, Tehran, Iran;
Zarand Aviation, a/k/a GIE Zarand Aviation, 42 Avenue Montaigne,
75008 Paris, France, and 112 Avenue Kleber, 75116 Paris, France;
Gatewick LLC, a/k/a Gatewick Freight & Cargo Services, a/k/a/
Gatewick Aviation Services, G22 Dubai Airport Free Zone,
P.O. Box 393754, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and P.O. Box 52404,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Mohamed Abdulla Alqaz Building, Al
Maktoum Street, Al Rigga, Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
Pejman Mahmood Kosarayanifard, a/k/a Kosarian Fard, P.O. Box 52404,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
Mahmoud Amini, G22 Dubai Airport Free Zone, P.O. Box
393754, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and P.O. Box 52404 Dubai,
United Arab Emirates and Mohamed Abdulla Alqaz Building, Al Maktoum
Street, Al Rigga, Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
Kerman Aviation, a/k/a GIE Kerman Aviation, 42 Avenue Montaigne
75008, Paris, France;
Sirjanco Trading LLC, P.O. Box 8709, Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
Ali Eslamian, 4th Floor, 33 Cavendish Square, London, W1G0PW, United
Kingdom, and 2 Bentinck Close, Prince Albert Road St. Johns Wood,
London NW87RY, United Kingdom;
Mahan Air General Trading LLC, 19th Floor Al Moosa Tower One, Sheik
Zayed Road, Dubai 40594, United Arab Emirates;
Skyco (UK) Ltd., 4th Floor, 33 Cavendish Square, London, W1G 0PV,
United Kingdom;
Equipco (UK) Ltd., 2 Bentinck Close, Prince Albert Road, London, NW8
7RY, United Kingdom;
Mehdi Bahrami, Mahan Airways- Istanbul Office, Cumhuriye Cad. Sibil
Apt No: 101 D:6, 34374 Emadad, Sisli Istanbul, Turkey.
Order Renewing Order Temporarily Denying Export Privileges
Pursuant to Section 766.24 of the Export Administration
Regulations, 15 CFR Parts 730-774 (2013) (``EAR'' or the
``Regulations''), I hereby grant the request of the Office of Export
Enforcement (``OEE'') to renew the July 31, 2013 Order Temporarily
Denying the Export Privileges of Mahan Airways, Zarand Aviation,
Gatewick LLC, Pejman Mahmood Kosarayanifard, Mahmoud Amini, Kerman
Aviation, Sirjanco Trading LLC, Ali Eslamian, Mahan Air General Trading
LLC, Skyco (UK) Ltd., Equipco (UK) Ltd., and Mehdi Bahrami. I find that
renewal of the Temporary Denial Order (``TDO'') is necessary in the
public interest to prevent an imminent violation of the EAR.
I. Procedural History
On March 17, 2008, Darryl W. Jackson, the then-Assistant Secretary
of Commerce for Export Enforcement (``Assistant Secretary''), signed a
TDO denying Mahan Airways' export privileges for a period of 180 days
on the grounds that its issuance was necessary in the public interest
to prevent an imminent violation of the Regulations. The TDO also named
as denied persons Blue Airways, of Yerevan, Armenia (``Blue Airways of
Armenia''), as well as the ``Balli Group Respondents,'' namely, Balli
Group PLC, Balli Aviation, Balli Holdings, Vahid Alaghband, Hassan
Alaghband, Blue Sky One Ltd., Blue Sky Two Ltd., Blue Sky Three Ltd.,
Blue Sky Four Ltd., Blue Sky Five Ltd., and Blue Sky Six Ltd., all of
the United Kingdom. The TDO was issued ex parte pursuant to Section
766.24(a), and went into effect on March 21, 2008, the date it was
published in the Federal Register.
The TDO subsequently has been renewed in accordance with Section
766.24(d), including most recently on July 31, 2013.\1\ As of March 9,
2010, the Balli Group Respondents and Blue Airways were no longer
subject to the TDO. As part of the February 25, 2011 TDO renewal,
Gatewick LLC, Mahmoud Amini, and Pejman Mahmood Kosarayanifard
(``Kosarian Fard'') were added as related persons in accordance with
Section 766.23 of the Regulations. On July 1, 2011, the TDO was
modified by adding Zarand Aviation as a respondent in order to prevent
an imminent violation. Specifically, Zarand Aviation owned an Airbus
A310 subject to the Regulations that was being operated for the benefit
of Mahan Airways in violation of both the TDO
[[Page 4872]]
and the Regulations. As part of the August 24, 2011 renewal, Kerman
Aviation, Sirjanco Trading LLC, and Ali Eslamian were added to the TDO
as related persons. Mahan Air General Trading LLC, Skyco (UK) Ltd., and
Equipco (UK) Ltd. were added as related persons on April 9, 2012. Mehdi
Bahrami was added to the TDO as a related person as part of the
February 4, 2013 renewal order.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The July 31, 2013 Order was published in the Federal
Register on August 7, 2013. 78 Fed. Reg. 48138 (Aug. 7, 2013). The
TDO previously had been renewed on September 17, 2008, March 16,
2009, September 11, 2009, March 9, 2010, September 3, 2010, February
25, 2011, August 24, 2011, February 15, 2012, August 9, 2012, and
February 4, 2013. The August 24, 2011 renewal followed the
modification of the TDO on July 1, 2011, which added Zarand Aviation
as a respondent. Each renewal or modification order was published in
the Federal Register.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
On December 30, 2013, BIS, through its Office of Export Enforcement
(``OEE''), submitted a written request for renewal of the TDO. The
current TDO dated July 31, 2013, will expire on January 27, 2014,
unless renewed on or before that date. Notice of the renewal request
was provided to Mahan Airways and Zarand Aviation by delivery of a copy
of the request in accordance with Sections 766.5 and 766.24(d) of the
Regulations. No opposition to any aspect of the renewal of the TDO has
been received from either Mahan Airways or Zarand Aviation.
Furthermore, no appeal of the related person determinations I made as
part of the September 3, 2010, February 25, 2011, August 24, 2011,
April 9, 2012, and February 4, 2013 renewal or modification orders has
been made by Gatewick LLC, Kosarian Fard, Mahmoud Amini, Kerman
Aviation, Sirjanco Trading LLC, Ali Eslamian, Mahan Air General Trading
LLC, Skyco (UK) Ltd., Equipco (UK) Ltd., or Mehdi Bahrami.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ A party named or added as a related person may not oppose
the issuance or renewal of the underlying temporary denial order,
but may file an appeal of the related person determination in
accordance with Section 766.23(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Renewal of the TDO
A. Legal Standard
Pursuant to Section 766.24, BIS may issue or renew an order
temporarily denying a respondent's export privileges upon a showing
that the order is necessary in the public interest to prevent an
``imminent violation'' of the Regulations. 15 CFR Sec. Sec.
766.24(b)(1) and 776.24(d). ``A violation may be `imminent' either in
time or degree of likelihood.'' 15 CFR Sec. 766.24(b)(3). BIS may show
``either that a violation is about to occur, or that the general
circumstances of the matter under investigation or case under criminal
or administrative charges demonstrate a likelihood of future
violations.'' Id. As to the likelihood of future violations, BIS may
show that the violation under investigation or charge ``is significant,
deliberate, covert and/or likely to occur again, rather than technical
or negligent [.]'' Id. A ``lack of information establishing the precise
time a violation may occur does not preclude a finding that a violation
is imminent, so long as there is sufficient reason to believe the
likelihood of a violation.'' Id.
B. The TDO and BIS's Request for Renewal
OEE's request for renewal is based upon the facts underlying the
issuance of the initial TDO and the TDO renewals in this matter and the
evidence developed over the course of this investigation indicating a
blatant disregard of U.S. export controls and the TDO. The initial TDO
was issued as a result of evidence that showed that Mahan Airways and
other parties engaged in conduct prohibited by the EAR by knowingly re-
exporting to Iran three U.S.-origin aircraft, specifically Boeing 747s
(``Aircraft 1-3''), items subject to the EAR and classified under
Export Control Classification Number (``ECCN'') 9A991.b, without the
required U.S. Government authorization. Further evidence submitted by
BIS indicated that Mahan Airways was involved in the attempted re-
export of three additional U.S.-origin Boeing 747s (``Aircraft 4-6'')
to Iran.
As discussed in the September 17, 2008 renewal order, evidence
presented by BIS indicated that Aircraft 1-3 continued to be flown on
Mahan Airways' routes after issuance of the TDO, in violation of the
Regulations and the TDO itself.\3\ It also showed that Aircraft 1-3 had
been flown in further violation of the Regulations and the TDO on the
routes of Iran Air, an Iranian Government airline. Moreover, as
discussed in the March 16, 2009, September 11, 2009 and March 9, 2010
Renewal Orders, Mahan Airways registered Aircraft 1-3 in Iran, obtained
Iranian tail numbers for them (including EP-MNA and EP-MNB), and
continued to operate at least two of them in violation of the
Regulations and the TDO,\4\ while also committing an additional knowing
and willful violation of the Regulations and the TDO when it negotiated
for and acquired an additional U.S.-origin aircraft. The additional
acquired aircraft was an MD-82 aircraft, which subsequently was painted
in Mahan Airways' livery and flown on multiple Mahan Airways' routes
under tail number TC-TUA.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Engaging in conduct prohibited by a denial order violates
the Regulations. 15 CFR Sec. Sec. 764.2(a) and (k).
\4\ The third Boeing 747 appeared to have undergone significant
service maintenance and may not have been operational at the time of
the March 9, 2010 renewal order.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The March 9, 2010 Renewal Order also noted that a court in the
United Kingdom (``U.K.'') had found Mahan Airways in contempt of court
on February 1, 2010, for failing to comply with that court's December
21, 2009 and January 12, 2010 orders compelling Mahan Airways to remove
the Boeing 747s from Iran and ground them in the Netherlands. Mahan
Airways and the Balli Group Respondents had been litigating before the
U.K. court concerning ownership and control of Aircraft 1-3. In a
letter to the U.K. court dated January 12, 2010, Mahan Airways'
Chairman indicated, inter alia, that Mahan Airways opposes U.S.
Government actions against Iran, that it continued to operate the
aircraft on its routes in and out of Tehran (and had 158,000 ``forward
bookings'' for these aircraft), and that it wished to continue to do so
and would pay damages if required by that court, rather than ground the
aircraft.
The September 3, 2010 renewal order discussed the fact that Mahan
Airways' violations of the TDO extended beyond operating U.S.-origin
aircraft in violation of the TDO and attempting to acquire additional
U.S.-origin aircraft. In February 2009, while subject to the TDO, Mahan
Airways participated in the export of computer motherboards, items
subject to the Regulations and designated as EAR99, from the United
States to Iran, via the United Arab Emirates (``UAE''), in violation of
both the TDO and the Regulations, by transporting and/or forwarding the
computer motherboards from the UAE to Iran. Mahan Airways' violations
were facilitated by Gatewick LLC, which not only participated in the
transaction, but also has stated to BIS that it acts as Mahan Airways'
sole booking agent for cargo and freight forwarding services in the
UAE.
Moreover, in a January 24, 2011 filing in the U.K. court, Mahan
Airways asserted that Aircraft 1-3 were not being used, but stated in
pertinent part that the aircraft were being maintained in Iran
especially ``in an airworthy condition'' and that, depending on the
outcome of its U.K. court appeal, the aircraft ``could immediately go
back into service . . . on international routes into and out of Iran.''
Mahan Airways' January 24, 2011 submission to U.K. Court of Appeal, at
p. 25, ]] 108, 110. This clearly stated intent, both on its own and in
conjunction with Mahan Airways' prior misconduct and statements,
demonstrated the need to renew the TDO in order to prevent imminent
future violations. Two of these three 747s subsequently were removed
from Iran and are no longer in
[[Page 4873]]
Mahan Airway's possession. The third of these 747s, with Manufacturer's
Serial Number (``MSN'') 23480 and Iranian tail number EP-MNE, remains
in Iran under Mahan's control. Pursuant to Executive Order 13324, it
was designated a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (``SDGT'') by
the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control
(``OFAC'') on September 19, 2012.\5\ Furthermore, as discussed in the
February 4, 2013 Order, open source information indicated that this
747, which is painted in the livery and logo of Mahan Airways, has been
flown between Iran and Syria, and is suspected of ferrying weapons and/
or other equipment to the Syrian Government from Iran's Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps. Open source information shows this aircraft
remains in active operation in Mahan Airways' fleet and has been flown
from Iran to Syria as recently as June 30, 2013.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\5\ See https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/pages/20120919.aspx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition, as first detailed in the July 1, 2011 and August 24,
2011 orders, and discussed in the subsequent renewal orders in this
matter, Mahan Airways also has continued to evade U.S. export control
laws by operating two Airbus A310 aircraft, bearing Mahan Airways'
livery, colors and logo, on flights into and out of Iran.\6\ The
aircraft are owned, respectively, by Zarand Aviation and Kerman
Aviation, both of whose corporate registrations list Mahan Air General
Trading as a member of their Groupement D'interet Economique
(``Economic Interest Group'').\7\ At the time of the July 1, 2011 and
August 24, 2011 Orders, these Airbus A310s were registered in France,
with tail numbers F-OJHH and F-OJHI, respectively. OEE subsequently
presented evidence that after the August 24, 2011 renewal, Mahan
Airways and Zarand Aviation worked in concert, along with Kerman
Aviation, to de-register the two Airbus A310 aircraft in France and to
register both aircraft in Iran (with, respectively, Iranian tail
numbers EP-MHH and EP-MHI). It was determined subsequent to the
February 15, 2012 renewal order that the registration switch for these
A310s was cancelled; however, both aircraft continued to actively fly
for Mahan Airways under the original French tail numbers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\6\ The Airbus A310s are powered with U.S.-origin engines. The
engines are subject to the EAR and classified under Export Control
Classification (``ECCN'') 9A991.d. The Airbus A310s contain
controlled U.S.-origin items valued at more than 10 percent of the
total value of the aircraft and as a result are subject to the EAR.
They are classified under ECCN 9A991.b. The reexport of these
aircraft to Iran requires U.S. Government authorization pursuant to
Section 746.7 of the Regulations.
\7\ Kerman Aviation's corporate registration also lists Mahan
Aviation Services Company as an additional member of its Economic
Interest Group.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In addition to Mahan Airways' continued unlawful operation and/or
possession of these two A310s, as well as the remaining 747 (MSN 23480
and Iranian tail number EP-MNE) discussed above, the August 2012
renewal order found that Mahan Airways had acquired another Airbus A310
aircraft subject to the Regulations,\8\ with MSN 499 and Iranian tail
number EP-VIP, in violation of the TDO and the Regulations. On
September 19, 2012, all three Airbus A310 aircraft (tail numbers F-
OJHH, F-OJHI, and EP-VIP) were designated as SDGTs.\9\
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\8\ See note 6, supra.
\9\ See https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/pages/20120919.aspx. Mahan Airways was previously
designated by OFAC as a SDGT on October 18, 2011. 77 FR 64,427
(October 18, 2011).
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The February 4, 2013 Order laid out further evidence of continued
and additional efforts by Mahan Airways and other persons acting in
concert with Mahan, including Kral Aviation and another Turkish
company, to procure U.S.-origin engines (MSNs 517621 and 517738) and
other aircraft parts in violation of the TDO and the Regulations.\10\
The February 4, 2013 renewal order also added Mehdi Bahrami as a
related person in accordance with Section 766.23 of the Regulations.
Bahrami, a Mahan Vice-President and the head of Mahan's Istanbul
Office, also was involved in Mahan's acquisition of the original three
Boeing 747s (Aircraft 1-3) that resulted in the original TDO, and has
had a business relationship with Mahan dating back to 1997.
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\10\ Kral Aviation was referenced in the February 4, 2013 Order
as ``Turkish Company No. 1.'' Kral Aviation purchased a GE CF6-50C2
aircraft engine (MSN517621) from the United States in July 2012, on
behalf of Mahan Airways. OEE was able to prevent this engine from
reaching Mahan by issuing a redelivery order to the freight
forwarder in accordance with Section 758.8 of the Regulations. OEE
also issued Kral Aviation a redelivery order for the second CF6-50C2
engine (MSN 517738) on July 30, 2012. The owner of the second engine
subsequently cancelled the item's sale to Kral Aviation. In
September 2012, OEE was alerted by a U.S. exporter that another
Turkish company (``Turkish Company No. 2'') was attempting to
purchase aircraft spare parts intended for re-export by Turkish
Company No. 2 to Mahan Airways. See February 4, 2013 Order.
On December 31, 2013, Kral Aviation was added to BIS's Entity
List, Supplement No. 4 to Part 744 of the Regulations. See 78 Fed.
Reg.75458 (Dec. 12, 2013). Companies and individuals are added to
the Entity List for engaging in activities contrary to the national
security or foreign policy interests of the United States. See 15
CFR Sec. 744.11.
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The July 31, 2013 Order detailed additional evidence obtained by
OEE showing efforts by Mahan Airways to obtain another GE CF6-50C2
aircraft engine (MSN 528350) from the United States via Turkey.
Multiple Mahan employees, including Mehdi Bahrami, were involved in or
aware of matters related to the engine's arrival in Turkey from the
United States, plans to visually inspect the engine, and prepare it for
shipment from Turkey.
Mahan sought to obtain this U.S.-origin engine through Pioneer
Logistics Havacilik Turizm Yonetim Danismanlik (``Pioneer Logistics''),
an aircraft parts supplier located in Turkey, and its director/
operator, Gulnihal Yegane, a Turkish national who previously has
conducted Mahan related business with Mehdi Bahrami and Ali Eslamian.
Moreover, as referenced in the July 31, 2013 Order, a sworn affidavit
by Kosol Surinanda, also known as Kosol Surinandha, Managing Director
of Mahan's General Sales Agent in Thailand, stated that the shares of
Pioneer Logistics for which he is the listed owner are ``actually the
property of and owned by Mahan.'' He further stated that he held
``legal title to the shares until otherwise required by Mahan'' but
would ``exercise the rights granted to [him] exactly and only as
instructed by Mahan and [his] vote and/or decisions [would] only and
exclusively reflect the wills and demands of Mahan[.]'' \11\
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\11\ Pioneer Logistics, Gulnihal Yegane, and Kosol Surinanda
also were added to the Entity List on December 12, 2013. See 78 FR
75458 (Dec. 12, 2013).
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OEE's current renewal request includes evidence discovered or
obtained after the July 31, 2013 Order was issued that further
establishes Mahan's continued efforts to evade and violate the TDO and
the Regulations, including through efforts to further expand its
network of procurement agents. OEE has obtained evidence confirming an
attempt by Mahan, which OEE thwarted, to obtain, via an Indonesian
aircraft parts supplier, two U.S.-origin Honeywell ALF-502R-5 aircraft
engines (MSNs LF5660 and LF5325), items subject to the Regulations,
from a U.S. company located in Texas. An invoice of the Indonesian
aircraft parts supplier dated March 27, 2013, lists Mahan Airways as
the purchaser of the engines and includes a Mahan ship-to address. OEE
also has obtained a Mahan air waybill dated March 12, 2013, listing
numerous U.S.-origin aircraft parts, including, but not limited to, a
vertical navigation gyroscope, a transmitter, and a power control unit,
items subject to the Regulations, being transported by
[[Page 4874]]
Mahan from Turkey to Iran in violation of the TDO.
Finally, Mahan continues to publically list in its active fleet
both U.S.-origin aircraft and aircraft such as the Airbus A310, which,
based on its U.S.-origin engines, is subject to the Regulations.
C. Findings
Under the applicable standard set forth in Section 766.24 of the
Regulations and my review of the entire record, I find that the
evidence presented by BIS convincingly demonstrates that Mahan Airways
has continually violated the EAR and the TDO, that such knowing
violations have been significant, deliberate and covert, and that there
is a likelihood of future violations. The record includes further
evidence uncovered by OEE since the July 31, 2013 Order regarding on-
going efforts by Mahan Airways in concert with its far-reaching network
of affiliates and agents to procure EAR items in violation of the TDO
and the Regulations. Therefore, renewal of the TDO is necessary to
prevent imminent violation of the EAR and to give notice to companies
and individuals in the United States and abroad that they should
continue to cease dealing with Mahan Airways, Zarand Aviation, and the
other denied persons under the TDO in export transactions involving
items subject to the EAR.
IV. Order
It is therefore ordered:
First, that MAHAN AIRWAYS, Mahan Tower, No. 21, Azadegan St., M.A.
Jenah Exp. Way, Tehran, Iran; ZARAND AVIATION A/K/A GIE ZARAND
AVIATION, 42 Avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris, France, and 112 Avenue
Kleber, 75116 Paris, France; GATEWICK LLC, A/K/A GATEWICK FREIGHT &
CARGO SERVICES, A/K/A GATEWICK AVIATION SERVICE, G22 Dubai
Airport Free Zone, P.O. Box 393754, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and
P.O. Box 52404, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Mohamed Abdulla Alqaz
Building, Al Maktoum Street, Al Rigga, Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
PEJMAN MAHMOOD KOSARAYANIFARD A/K/A KOSARIAN FARD, P.O. Box 52404,
Dubai, United Arab Emirates; MAHMOUD AMINI, G22 Dubai Airport
Free Zone, P.O. Box 393754, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and P.O. Box
52404, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Mohamed Abdulla Alqaz Building,
Al Maktoum Street, Al Rigga, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; KERMAN
AVIATION A/K/A GIE KERMAN AVIATION, 42 Avenue Montaigne 75008, Paris,
France; SIRJANCO TRADING LLC, P.O. Box 8709, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates; ALI ESLAMIAN, 4th Floor, 33 Cavendish Square, London W1G0PW,
United Kingdom, and 2 Bentinck Close, Prince Albert Road, St. Johns
Wood, London NW87RY, United Kingdom; MAHAN AIR GENERAL TRADING LLC,
19th Floor Al Moosa Tower One, Sheik Zayed Road, Dubai 40594, United
Arab Emirates; SKYCO (UK) LTD., 4th Floor, 33 Cavendish Square, London,
W1G 0PV, United Kingdom; EQUIPCO (UK) LTD., 2 Bentinck Close, Prince
Albert Road, London, NW8 7RY, United Kingdom; and MEHDI BAHRAMI, Mahan
Airways-Istanbul Office, Cumhuriye Cad. Sibil Apt No: 101 D:6, 34374
Emadad, Sisli Istanbul, Turkey; and when acting for or on their behalf,
any successors or assigns, agents, or employees (each a ``Denied
Person'' and collectively the ``Denied Persons'') may not, directly or
indirectly, participate in any way in any transaction involving any
commodity, software or technology (hereinafter collectively referred to
as ``item'') exported or to be exported from the United States that is
subject to the Export Administration Regulations (``EAR''), or in any
other activity subject to the EAR including, but not limited to:
A. Applying for, obtaining, or using any license, License
Exception, or export control document;
B. Carrying on negotiations concerning, or ordering, buying,
receiving, using, selling, delivering, storing, disposing of,
forwarding, transporting, financing, or otherwise servicing in any way,
any transaction involving any item exported or to be exported from the
United States that is subject to the EAR, or in any other activity
subject to the EAR; or
C. Benefitting in any way from any transaction involving any item
exported or to be exported from the United States that is subject to
the EAR, or in any other activity subject to the EAR.
SECOND, that no person may, directly or indirectly, do any of the
following:
A. Export or reexport to or on behalf of a Denied Person any item
subject to the EAR;
B. Take any action that facilitates the acquisition or attempted
acquisition by a Denied Person of the ownership, possession, or control
of any item subject to the EAR that has been or will be exported from
the United States, including financing or other support activities
related to a transaction whereby a Denied Person acquires or attempts
to acquire such ownership, possession or control;
C. Take any action to acquire from or to facilitate the acquisition
or attempted acquisition from a Denied Person of any item subject to
the EAR that has been exported from the United States;
D. Obtain from a Denied Person in the United States any item
subject to the EAR with knowledge or reason to know that the item will
be, or is intended to be, exported from the United States; or
E. Engage in any transaction to service any item subject to the EAR
that has been or will be exported from the United States and which is
owned, possessed or controlled by a Denied Person, or service any item,
of whatever origin, that is owned, possessed or controlled by a Denied
Person if such service involves the use of any item subject to the EAR
that has been or will be exported from the United States. For purposes
of this paragraph, servicing means installation, maintenance, repair,
modification or testing.
THIRD, that, after notice and opportunity for comment as provided
in section 766.23 of the EAR, any other person, firm, corporation, or
business organization related to a Denied Person by affiliation,
ownership, control, or position of responsibility in the conduct of
trade or related services may also be made subject to the provisions of
this Order.
FOURTH, that this Order does not prohibit any export, reexport, or
other transaction subject to the EAR where the only items involved that
are subject to the EAR are the foreign-produced direct product of U.S.-
origin technology.
In accordance with the provisions of Sections 766.24(e) of the EAR,
Mahan Airways and/or Zarand Aviation may, at any time, appeal this
Order by filing a full written statement in support of the appeal with
the Office of the Administrative Law Judge, U.S. Coast Guard ALJ
Docketing Center, 40 South Gay Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-4022.
In accordance with the provisions of Sections 766.23(c)(2) and
766.24(e)(3) of the EAR, Gatewick LLC, Mahmoud Amini, Pejman Mahmood
Kosarayanifard, Kerman Aviation, Sirjanco Trading LLC, Ali Eslamian,
Mahan Air General Trading LLC, Skyco (UK) Ltd., Equipco (UK) Ltd., and/
or Mehdi Bahrami may, at any time, appeal their inclusion as a related
person by filing a full written statement in support of the appeal with
the Office of the Administrative Law Judge, U.S. Coast Guard ALJ
Docketing Center, 40 South Gay Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-4022.
In accordance with the provisions of Section 766.24(d) of the EAR,
BIS may seek renewal of this Order by filing a written request not
later than 20 days before the expiration date. A renewal request may be
opposed by Mahan Airways and/or Zarand Aviation as
[[Page 4875]]
provided in Section 766.24(d), by filing a written submission with the
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement, which must be
received not later than seven days before the expiration date of the
Order.
A copy of this Order shall be provided to Mahan Airways, Zarand
Aviation and each related person, and shall be published in the Federal
Register. This Order is effective immediately and shall remain in
effect for 180 days.
Dated: January 24, 2014.
David W. Mills,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2014-01835 Filed 1-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P