RFERL:

The U.S. government has reached a deal to put Chinese telecommunications giant ZTE Corp back in business after penalties imposed over Iran sanctions violations forced the company to shut down operations, U.S. officials and congressional aides said.

President Donald Trump confirmed the deal in a tweet late on May 25. "I closed it down then let it reopen with high level security guarantees, change of management and board," Trump wrote, adding that the company "must purchase U.S. parts and pay a $1.3 billion fine" under the deal.

Trump earlier in the week suggested that he might fine ZTE up to $1.3 billion and shake up its management while rolling back earlier penalties that crippled the company's business under a deal with Beijing connected with broader trade negotiations.

The reported deal ran into immediate resistance in Congress, where Democrats and Republicans alike accused Trump of bending to pressure from Beijing to ease up on a company that U.S. intelligence officials have suggested poses a significant risk to U.S. national security.

ZTE was banned in April from buying U.S. technology components for seven years after allegedly breaking an agreement reached over charges that it violated U.S. sanctions by selling banned equipment to Iran and North Korea.

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