Johnson City Press, 08 December 2017— A global company with a manufacturing presence in Johnson City agreed to pay a $1.2 million settlement to the federal government over potential violations of sanctions barring American companies from dealing with Iran.

In a statement released Wednesday by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the office said Dentsply Sirona, previously Dentsply International, will pay $1,220,400 to settle potential civil liability after the company sent 37 shipments of dental equipment and supplies from the United States to third-party distributors with knowledge or reason to know they would ultimately go to Iran.

Between Nov. 26, 2009, and July 5, 2012, regulators said Dentsply sent the shipments through its subsidiaries UK International and Sultan Healthcare.

“Personnel from these subsidiaries and/or divisions concealed the fact that the goods were destined for Iran, and in multiple cases continued to conduct business with these distributors after receiving confirmation that the distributors had re-exported (Dentsply) products to Iran in apparent violation of the (Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations),” the statement said.

The office noted Dentsply’s cooperation with its investigation, but also mentioned a similar settlement with the company for similar violations in 2001.

In an emailed response, Dentsply Sirona Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations Marion Par-Weixlberger said the company put programs in place since the violations that will prevent future occurrences.

“Living and breathing personal accountability and acting with uncompromising integrity are two critical values for Dentsply Sirona,” the email said. “We take responsibility for mistakes made in the past, but have learned from them and made significant improvements through our compliance program since the occurrence of these infractions. We have a robust Business Code of Conduct that is available publicly on our website.”

For nearly 30 years, the United States has upheld a trade embargo with Iran known as the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.

The embargo aims to restrict U.S. economic activity with Iran, a listed state sponsor of terrorism since 1984, by prohibiting the import of Iranian goods and services into the country and the export of American goods, technology and services to Iran.

In 2015, after a secretive process during which the company’s name was withheld from the public and elected county officials, the Washington County Industrial Development Board agreed to provide $700,000 to buy Dentsply’s existing manufacturing facility on Rolling Hills Drive and up to $650,000 for building improvements to keep the company and its jobs in Johnson City. Through a lease for the building, Dentsply will pay more than $1 million back to the county.