A Canadian company has been charged with violating international sanctions against Iran by exporting a product that can be used in nuclear applications, Canadian officials announced on Monday, CBC reported.
After a joint investigation launched almost three years ago by the RCMP organized crime section and the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA), Lee Specialties Ltd. has been charged for unlawfully shipping Viton o-rings to Iran.
Viton is a brand of synthetic rubber that can withstand high temperatures and corrosive chemicals, making it useful in both oilfield and nuclear applications.
Viton o-rings and gaskets are specifically mentioned in the Special Economic Measures Act as prohibited items that cannot be shipped to any person or company in Iran, the RCMP said in a press release.
The investigation began in May 2011 after CBSA officers at the Calgary International Airport found Viton o-rings in a cargo shipment headed for Iran.
