US will not lift sanctions against Iranian IT firm delisted by EU

The United States will not follow the European Union’s lead in lifting sanctions on Iranian technology company ArvanCloud, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said, 8 April.

This week the EU lifted ‘restrictive measures’ it imposed on ArvanCloud in November 2022, when it accused the firm of taking part in ‘censorship and efforts of the Iranian government to shut down the internet’ following deadly protests.

‘Our position on ArvanCloud is clear,’ Miller said at a news briefing. He alleged the company ‘maintains a close relationship to Iran’s ministry of intelligence and security, and senior managers of ArvanCloud are either current or former affiliates of the ministry of intelligence and security.’

‘Ultimately, the EU’s decisions are up to the EU,’ he said, adding, ‘ArvanCloud will remain sanctioned by the United States for its clear role in facilitating censorship to the detriment of the people of Iran.’

In 2022, Iranian authorities cut off or slowed down Internet services to stop protesters from communicating and organising demonstrations, following a crackdown on weeks of nationwide protests demanding more freedoms and women’s rights. In June last year, the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘OFAC’) imposed sanctions on ArvanCloud and two of its senior employees ‘for their roles in facilitating the Iranian regime’s censorship of the Internet in Iran.’

https://www.state.gov/briefings/department-press-briefing-april-8-2024/