Alabama man charged with scheme to evade US sanctions on Iran, DOJ says

An Iranian man living in Alabama has been charged with violating U.S. sanctions on Iran by exporting goods to the Islamic Republic. 

Ray Hunt — also known as Abdolrahman Hantoosh, Rahman Hantoosh and Rahman Natoosh — used his company to export oil and gas parts to Iran, according to a 15-count federal indictment. 

HOW BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CAN HELP IRANIAN PROTESTERS AND PUT PRESSURE ON REGIME: NONPROFIT

Hunt allegedly shipped the goods destined for Iran through Turkey and the United Arab Emirates in an effort to evade U.S. sanctions. He operated Vega Tools LLC, which resold industrial parts, including control valves and oil tubing, for the industrial and energy sectors.

He is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, sanctions violations, smuggling goods from the United States and submitting false or misleading export information. 

In 2017, Hunt exported a Ranger Hydro-Chem Firefighting Nozzle to an Iranian importer of industrial equipment through Turkey, according to court records. The invoice for the part falsely stated it was to be shipped to Turkey, federal prosecutors said. 

Hunt faces up to 35 years in prison on all charges and $1 million in fines. 

The Biden administration recently announced a new round of sanctions against Iranian officials due to the country’s brutal treatment of anti-government demonstrators.