On May 17, 2023, Murad, a skincare company based in California, agreed to pay approximately $3.33 million to settle allegations that it conspired to export goods and services to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions for a period of nearly eight years.

According to the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), a former senior executive of the company was involved in signing agreements with an Iranian distributor, facilitating the export of goods to the Middle East, with the understanding that the distributor, initially through an Iranian-based firm and later through a firm in the United Arab Emirates, would further export the products to Iran. As part of the settlement, the executive has also agreed to pay $175,000 to OFAC.

Despite Murad being acquired by consumer-goods giant Unilever U.S. in September 2015, the exports to Iran continued until January 2018, even though Unilever became aware of Murad’s Iran-related business two months after the acquisition, as stated in the agreement. The shipments ceased after Murad’s bank raised inquiries regarding potential payments involving Iran.