Published on Thursday, July 22, 2004 by the lndependent/UK
Grand Jury Probes Cheney's Role in 'Illegal' Iran Trade
by Rupert Cornwell
WASHINGTON - Yet another controversy has flared up around the Halliburton oil services company of which Vice-President Dick Cheney used to be chief executive - this time over whether during the 1995-2000 Cheney era it violated US law by doing business directly with Iran.
GRAND JURY PROBES CHENEY'S ROLE IN 'ILLEGAL' IRAN TRADE
The US Treasury has been probing the affair, which centers on a Dubai-based subsidiary of Halliburton and its work at Iranian oilfields, ever since allegations first surfaced in 2001. But this week it emerged that the group is under investigation by federal prosecutors in its home town of Houston. A grand jury has also subpoenaed various documents covering its Iranian operations, a sign that some evidence has surfaced indicating the company knowingly violated the sanctions.
Halliburton claims it is the victim of an election season witch-hunt by the Democrats. It maintains it obeyed US regulations over dealings with Iran, which stipulate that subsidiaries doing business there must be registered abroad, employ no US citizens, and operate independently of the parent company
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http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0722-03.htm