Cites Anti-Terrorism Control Laws In Issuing Emergency Order Against Turkish Company

An emergency order posted Monday by the U.S. Commerce Department is preventing a Turkish company from delivering used aircraft engines to Iran. The Commerce Department cited anti-terrorism export control laws in preventing the engines from being transported to Iran.

According to Reuters, the two U.S.-built GE engines were to be delivered by 3K Aviation Consulting & Logistics based in Turkey to Iran via an Iranian cargo airline. Even though there has been some diplomatic contact between the U.S. and Iran recently, such exports are still strictly forbidden under U.S. law.

The order will be in effect for 180 days and goes beyond the single incident. The order prohibits executives of 3K Aviation, Pouya Airline, and Illinois-based Adaero International Trade, which government officials say had shipped the engines to Turkey, from "engaging in negotiations, trade, transport or other activities involving any U.S. export-controlled items," according to the report. It also includes any other parties that might have financed or supported the sale in any way.

Adaero International managing director Sadettin Ilgin told Reuters that his company had done nothing wrong. He said the engines had been installed on Turkish Airlines airplanes, and had been sold to U.S.-based International Aerospace Group, which had shipped them from Istanbul, Turkey to Frankfort, Germany in December. He said it was his understanding that the engines were bound for Russia, where they would become the property of Siberian Air. He said the Commerce Department order blocking their shipment to Iran was a surprise to him.

FMI: www.commerce.gov