Amazon under investigation for violating Iran sanctions
Turns out when you sell a lot of stuff to a lot of people, you sometimes, maybe violate international sanctions.
#AmazonProblems
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, the company said it is under investigation for selling around $34,000 of music, clothes, electronics, jewelry, books, office supplies, and other items to an Iranian embassy and others connected to the Iranian government since the start of 2012.
The sales may have violated United States sanctions against Iran that prevent sales to certain Iranians associated with that nation's government.
"In 2016, we determined that we processed and delivered orders of consumer products for certain individuals and entities located outside Iran covered by the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act or other United States sanctions and export control laws," the company wrote in the filing. "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."
Amazon wrote that it plans to cooperate with the investigation, and acknowledged that the investigation might result in "penalties."
Colin is Mashable's US & World Reporter. He previously interned at Foreign Policy magazine and The American Prospect. Colin is a graduate from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. When he's not at Mashable, you can most likely find him eating or playing some kind of sport.
