HP Sells Printers in Iran

U.S. Government No Likey

HP recently announced a cool photo printing app for the iPhone, but if a recent report is correct, the company could be worrying over an international trade transgression over the next week instead of celebrating its innovations at CES..

According to the Boston Globe, the company is in trouble for selling their printers in Iran through a third party distributor. HP is accused of signing a deal with the Dubai-based Redington Gulf company in 1997 in light of U.S. trading sanctions, and that because of the deal, HP printers have enjoyed great popularity in the region. An estimated 41% of all printers sold in Iran were said to be HPs. .

The U.S. has sanctioned several counts of trading with Iran since the government passed an embargo in April of 1995. In 1997, the Iran–Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) was passed, which sought to prevent other countries from trading with Iran. Other sanctions have followed over the years.

An HP spokesman said that the company "has a policy of complete compliance with all U.S. export laws."