Lebanese Businessman Sentenced 44 Months US Iran Drill Rig Smuggling Conspiracy

Brian Assi, a Lebanese national and salesman for a multinational heavy machinery company, was sentenced to 44 months in U.S. federal prison for conspiring to illegally export U.S.-made blasthole drills worth $2.7 million to Iran, violating American sanctions laws. Assi orchestrated the smuggling by using intermediaries in Iraq and Turkey to conceal Iran as the final destination, falsifying shipping documents and misleading freight forwarders. The drills, used in mining operations involving explosives, were shipped from a Florida subsidiary and routed through Turkey before reaching Iran, a U.S.-designated state sponsor of terrorism for over 40 years. U.S. officials emphasized that Assi's actions threatened American economic and national security and highlighted the government's commitment to prosecuting those who circumvent export controls to aid adversaries. The case underscores ongoing U.S. efforts to prevent American technology from reaching Iran and to enforce sanctions rigorously. Assi was convicted in October 2024 and sentenced in 2025 following multiple charges including conspiracy to violate export control laws and money laundering.