FBI in probe of tech sale to Iran

The FBI says it is investigating whether a Chinese firm conspired to illegally ship hardware and software purchased from U.S. tech firms to Iran. The alleged sale to Iran's government-controlled telecom company would be a violation of several federal laws and a trade embargo imposed on the Islamic nation. A federal investigation found evidence the Chinese company, ZTE Corp., is "engaged in an ongoing attempt to corruptly obstruct and impede," a Department of Commerce inquiry into the $130 million transaction found, TheSmokingGun.com reported Thursday. ZTE officials allegedly began attempting to cover up details of the deal after news reports in March said the telecom equipment sold to Iran was a "powerful surveillance system capable of monitoring landline, mobile and Internet communications." ZTE lawyers allegedly discussed shredding documents, altering records and lying to U.S. government officials, the FBI said.