July 31 (UPI) — Amazon told investors it is under federal investigation after the web-based retailer admitted to selling products to at least one Iranian on the U.S. government’s black list of people allegedly associated with terrorism, a violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran.
In its quarterly report to investors, Amazon said it sold approximately $300 worth of goods to an individual blacklisted by the U.S. government under Executive Order 13224, which was signed by President George W. Bush in 2001 and aims to “disrupt the financial support network for terrorists and terrorist organizations.”
The products Amazon sold included “books, other media, apparel, home and kitchen, jewelry, office, toys, health and beauty, consumer electronics, lawn and patio, automotive and musical instruments,” according to the quarterly report.
The individual was not identified in the report.
In addition to the $300 in items potentially sold in violation of Executive Order 13224, the company sold thousands of dollars in products to people with Iranian government associations, which might have violated the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act.
The sales include $24,700 “for an Iranian embassy located in a country other than Iran” and $8,100 in items to individuals “who may have been acting for five Iranian embassies located in countries other than Iran.”
The sales were made over a period of time between 2012 and 2017.
“Our review is ongoing and we have voluntarily reported these orders to the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the United States Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security,” the report said. “We intend to cooperate fully with OFAC and BIS with respect to their review, which may result in the imposition of penalties.”
