The CEO of a New York City based company has been sentenced to over 4½ years in prison for conspiring to send a steel company in Iran a metallic powder that can be used in missiles.

Erdal Kuyumcu (EHR’-dahl koo-YOOM’-koo), the head of Global Metallurgy (MEHT’-uh-lur-jee) LLC, was sentenced Thursday in Brooklyn federal court.

Prosecutors say he conspired to export a powder containing cobalt and nickel without getting a required license.

Such metals are closely regulated by the U.S. Department of Commerce to protect national security.

The defense said the powder is used primarily for industrial gas turbines. But prosecutors say it also has military applications.

They say an intermediary in Turkey was involved with an Iranian steel company linked to nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

(AP)