Hmm. You keep forgetting the important bit. Let me help you out again.
"One can end up in jail by simply hiring nationals from sanctioned countries and then giving them access to documents pertaining to US military technology."
This doesn't just happen to any random employer or any random professor. It happens when you are working for the DoD and you do something you shouldn't. If you don't want to run afoul of such laws, be better informed or don't take government contracts.
>and then giving them access to documents pertaining to US military technology
Not true! Once a technology is deemed to fall under ITAR or EAR, the export regulations kick in. Doesn't matter if the technology belongs to the government, a large company, a startup, or a university lab. And for obvious reasons, sometimes people are not aware this fact.
Random technology does not fall under ITAR or EAR. They are specific regulations that are pertinent to a very particular industry. If you are building military defense technology, you should probably be familiar those regulations and act accordingly.
"One can end up in jail by simply hiring nationals from sanctioned countries and then giving them access to documents pertaining to US military technology."
This doesn't just happen to any random employer or any random professor. It happens when you are working for the DoD and you do something you shouldn't. If you don't want to run afoul of such laws, be better informed or don't take government contracts.