PARIS — A French court on Wednesday refused an American request to extradite an Iranian businessman accused of violating an American embargo on exports to Iran. He had raised American suspicions by buying equipment for a front company in Malaysia that was then shipped secretly to Iranian military firms involved in Iran’s nuclear program.
The French government prosecutor had opposed the request to extradite the businessman, Majid Kakavand, 37, on the grounds that he had not violated French law and that the equipment involved was not necessarily military in nature. Neither France nor the European Union has a general trade embargo on Iran, as the United States does.
The court ordered that Mr. Kakavand be set free, and that his bail of about $260,000 be returned. His passport was given back to him.
“I’m leaving as soon as I can,” he said in English after the cou… >>>