The UK Sunday Times reports that an investigation of US-based energy company Halliburton has revealed that the company violated US trade sanctions against Iran. The corporation once headed by now-Vice President Dick Cheney apparently sold oil mining equipment to Iran through its off-shore interests in the UK, the Cayman Islands, and Sweden. Halliburton says that its conduct did not violate US-Iran trade sanctions [PDF] because the subsidiaries were operated independently and no US citizens "facilitated" the transactions. Halliburton also contends that the equipment sold was "stock" merchandise, not specifically designed or manufactured for sale to Iran. The FBI and a federal grand jury are currently conducting an independent probe of the deals as requested by US Department of Justice. The Sunday Times has more.