Chronology of Events Regarding Sale of U.S. Agricultural Commodities to Iran & Niki's Application for a One Time $500 million Cash Sale:

September 8, 1998        Niki Trading Company receives an order from the Government Trading Corporation of Iran (G.T.C.) for 3.55 million metric tons of U.S. wheat, corn, rice, soy products and sugar.

December 12, 1998 Pro Farmer article re "One time waiver sought for Iran".

December 14, 1998 Niki Trading Company submits a formal license request to the Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury.

December 16, 1998 In an effort led by Senator Craig a letter was sent to President Clinton signed by Senator Craig and 14 other Senators and 17 House members re G.T.C.'s order and Niki's license request.

December 17, 1998 Ten agricultural groups send a letter to President Clinton re G.T.C.'s order and supporting Niki's license request.

December 18, 1998 Niki receives an acknowledgment letter dated December 17, 1998, from the Office of Foreign Assets Control re request for license (FAC No. IR-168140 HCE).

December 23, 1998 Journal of Commerce article lays out some key points about the sanctions issue and Niki's efforts to get a one time license.

December 26, 1998 Niki receives a letter dated December 23, 1998, from Mr. Richard Newcomb, Director of the Office of the Foreign Assets confirming Niki's license application.

January 7, 1999 Niki per OFAC's request sends a detailed letter to Mr. Richard Newcomb, Director, OFAC, regarding the background of the order, the transaction process, and rationale for the requested license.  

January 11, 1999 Feedstuff article re "Deal with Iran hinges on Administration".

January 15, 1999 Senator Lugar sends a letter to Sandy Berger, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs re lifting the embargo against the sale of food and agricultural products to Iran. In this letter Senator Lugar urges the President to grant a one time license to Niki Trading Company.

January 15, 1999 Senators and House members receive an acknowledgment letter from Lou Hatamiya, USDA Foreign Agriculture Service Administrator re their letter to the President sent on December 16, 1998.

January 19, 1999 Major Washington Post article re "Iran Requests $500 Million In Food Items".

January 20, 1999 Voice of America, live broadcast interview with Richard Bliss re the sale of U.S. agricultural commodities to Iran. This interview was broadcast in Iran.

January 20, 1999 Herald Tribune article re Sale of U.S. Agricultural Commodities to Iran, inside headline story published all over Europe.

January 20, 1999 Reuters article regarding this issue published all over Europe and the Middle East.

January 22, 1999 Washington Post editorial endorsing the sale of U.S. grain to Iran.

January 22, 1999 Reuters reflects the Post editorial.

January 24, 1999 NPR, "All things Considered" program re sale of U.S. commodities to Iran and Niki's license request.

January 26, 1999 Eleven agricultural groups send a 2nd letter to the President urging his support for the license.

January 28, 1999 Op-Ed Washington Post letter from Sandy Berger re sale of food to Iraq.

January 29, 1999 Senator Breaux (D-LA), Senator Lugar (R-IN), Senator Craig (R-ID), and Senator Dorgan (D-ND) send a letter to Mr. Samuel Berger, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, requesting a special meeting regarding Niki's license application.

January 30, 1999 Radio Free Europe broadcasts a special program regarding Niki's proposal to sell U.S. grain to Iran.

February 3, 1999            Niki Trading Speaks at ITA Conference in Washington DC, along with US Congressman Robert Ney.

February 5, 1999        Christian Science Monitor editorial endorsing the sale of U.S. grain to Iran.

February 14, 1999 New York Times editorial endorsing the sale of U.S. grain to Iran.

February 18, 1999 Congressman Bob Ney (R-OH), a former teacher in Iran who speaks fluent Farsi, sends a letter to President Clinton urging him to approve Niki's request for a license.

February 24, 1999 Reuters article reports that U.S. Agriculture Secretary, Dan Glickman, testifies at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing in support of Niki's license for the sale of U.S. grain to Iran.

March 1, 1999 Reuters reports that three U.S. senators urge National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, at a meeting held on Capitol Hill (3/1/99) to approve the grain sale to Iran.

March 3, 1999 Senators Breaux, Lugar, Craig and Dorgan send a 2nd letter to Mr. Sandy Berger, urging him to act on Niki's license application

March 4, 1999 New York Times runs a 2nd Editorial in support of Niki's application for a license to sell U.S. grain to Iran.

March 19, 1999 Senate unanimously passes a resolution offered by Senators Craig and Dorgan which calls for the Administration to approve Niki's license application for the sale of 3.5 million tons of grain to Iran.

March 24, 1999 USA Today article states that the Clinton Administration is moving toward approving Niki's license.

March 25, 1999 National Association of Wheat Growers sends a letter to President Clinton in support of the one-time sale of wheat and other agricultural commodities to Iran by Niki Trading Company.

April 15, 1999 National Association of Wheat Growers sends a letter to Sandy Berger, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, in support of Niki's application for a license to sell U.S. grain to Iran.

April 27, 1999 Representatives of 29 national agricultural organizations, gathered at the 1999 Farm Summit in St. Louis, Missouri, support Niki's license application for the sale of grain to Iran.

April 28, 1999 Niki Trading Company's efforts result in major reform in sanctions policy with respect to Iran announced by the White House. The sale of food and medicines to Iran will be allowed on a case by case basis. Articles published in Washington Post, New York Times, USA Today, Herald Tribune, and many other domestic and international newspaper regarding the new sanctions policy and Niki's license application. CNN, MSNBC, and several radio stations also mention Niki's proposal to sell U.S. grain to Iran.

April 30, 1999       Niki Trading Company speaks at ITA Conference on US-Iranian Agriculural Markets along with US Senator Chuck Hagel.

May 11, 1999           Senate Agriculture Committee and Foreign Relations Committee had separate hearings on the new sanctions reform policy. Mr. Stewart Eizenstat, Undersecretary of State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs, notes at the hearing that Niki's application for a license is under active consideration. Senator Lugar, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, urges the Clinton Administration to grant Niki a license for the sale of agricultural products to Iran.

May 19, 1999  President Clinton sends a letter to Congressman Bob Ney regarding the new sanctions reform policy and the status of Niki's license application

June 9, 1999           House Agriculture Committee holds a hearing on the economic sanctions and effects on U.S. Agriculture. Both Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman, and Stewart Eizenstat, Under Secretary of State for Economics, Business and Agriculture Affairs, mentioned Niki's application for a license in their remarks. Reuters article reflects the hearing and also remarks made by Richard Bliss, Niki President, to members of the press after this hearing.

June 14, 1999 BridgeNews publishes an extensive article regarding sanctions and Niki's proposed sale and future plans.

June 15, 1999 Dow Jones publishes an extensive article titled "U.S. Company Awaits Approval to Sell Iran $500 Million of Grain".

Stay tuned for the latest from Niki on this web page.  This page has been updated as of June 23, 1999.