Israel Matzav

Iranian missile program lifeline runs through Turkey

Iran's missile industry is being kept alive by a group of Turkish companies that are owned by Iranians (Hat Tip: Joshua I).

The U.S. Treasury claims Turkish companies Macpar Makina, or Macpar, and Step A.Ş. are cooperating with a multi-million dollar procurement network for Iran’s missile industries, it announced Tuesday on its website.

Led by Milad Jafari, an Iranian national, the network tied to Iran’s Aerospace Industries Organization, or AIO, uses a series of companies in Iran and Turkey to procure metal products, including steel and aluminum alloys for AIO’s subordinates, the Treasury said. Between 2007 and late 2008, the network facilitated transactions valued at more than $7 million for companies subordinate to AIO it said.

“The Jafari network has established itself as a lifeline for Iran’s missile program by providing essential materials and support for AIO,” said Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey. “The Treasury Department will continue to identify and expose channels Iran is using to defy international sanctions, wherever those channels may be located.”

“Milad Jafari runs the procurement network along with his father, Mohammad Javad Jafari, and brother, Mani Jafari. Turkish nationals and key associates of Milad Jafari, Muammer Kuntay Duransoy and Çağrı Duransoy, facilitate transactions on behalf of the network. Milad and Mani Jafari’s mother, Mahin Falsafi, operates the network’s bank accounts at the Export Development Bank of Iran [EDBI], which was designated by Treasury in October 2008 for providing financial services to Iran’s Ministry of Defense of Armed Forces Logistics [MODAFL] and its subordinate entities,” it said.

It sounds like they're keeping it all in the family. What could go wrong?

Labels: Macpar Makina, Milad Jafari, Step A.S., Stuart Levey

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:55 PM