Feds: SC businessman illegally traded with Iran

COLUMBIS, S.C. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say the president of a North Charleston company was illegally exporting goods to Iran and lying to agents about his trade practices.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles says Markos Baghdasarian was arrested Saturday at an Atlanta airport before he could board a flight to the United Arab Emirates. That’s where authorities say Baghdasarian had a business associate who acted as a conduit to get his South Carolina-made products into Iran.

Baghdasarian was president of Delfin Group USA, a Russian-owned producer of synthetic motor oils.

Baghdasarian is charged with breaking a federal ban on trade with Iran. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison, and it wasn’t known if Baghdasarian had an attorney.

Company officials said they planned to issue a statement later Tuesday.

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Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP