The two Iranian men, including an Iranian-American Natick resident, who were arrested earlier this week on accusations of aiding Iran in a fatal drone strike killing U.S. service members in Jordan in January, have been indicted on charges related to a scheme to illegally export sophisticated electronic components from the U.S. to Iran, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday.Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 42, a dual U.S.-Iranian national of Natick, and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi (Abedini), 38, of Tehran, Iran, have been charged in federal court in Boston with conspiring to export sophisticated electronic components from the United States to Iran in violation of U.S. export control and sanctions laws, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.Abedininajafabadi is also charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.FBI officials said the case was in connection to a fatal drone strike on Jan. 28 that killed three U.S. service members and injured over 40 others in Jordan.At the time, the U.S. Department of Defense believed that Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia from Iraq, was responsible for the attack.The Natick Police Department along with the FBI were conducting an investigation at a home on Woodland Street on Monday afternoon.It was later revealed that the home belonged to Sadeghi, who appeared at the federal courthouse in South Boston on Monday.The FBI used parts of the drone used in the attack in January to link Sadeghi with supplying material support to Iran.Sadeghi allegedly sent sensitive technology from a Norwood semiconductor company overseas to the hands of groups designated as terrorists by the U.S. government.Authorities allege Sadeghi and Abedininajafabadi, who was arrested in Milan, Italy by Italian authorities at the request of the U.S. government on Monday, worked together to help Iran and Iranian-backed militias carry out the drone attack.Abedininajafabadi is accused of using his Iranian company SDRA, based in Switzerland, to evade U.S. export control and sanctions laws by procuring U.S. origin goods, services and technology from Sadeghi’s company in Norwood.Authorities have said more charges could be coming.
The two Iranian men, including an Iranian-American Natick resident, who were arrested earlier this week on accusations of aiding Iran in a fatal drone strike killing U.S. service members in Jordan in January, have been indicted on charges related to a scheme to illegally export sophisticated electronic components from the U.S. to Iran, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Thursday.
Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 42, a dual U.S.-Iranian national of Natick, and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi (Abedini), 38, of Tehran, Iran, have been charged in federal court in Boston with conspiring to export sophisticated electronic components from the United States to Iran in violation of U.S. export control and sanctions laws, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.
Abedininajafabadi is also charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
FBI officials said the case was in connection to a fatal drone strike on Jan. 28 that killed three U.S. service members and injured over 40 others in Jordan.
At the time, the U.S. Department of Defense believed that Kataib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia from Iraq, was responsible for the attack.
The Natick Police Department along with the FBI were conducting an investigation at a home on Woodland Street on Monday afternoon.
It was later revealed that the home belonged to Sadeghi, who appeared at the federal courthouse in South Boston on Monday.
The FBI used parts of the drone used in the attack in January to link Sadeghi with supplying material support to Iran.
Sadeghi allegedly sent sensitive technology from a Norwood semiconductor company overseas to the hands of groups designated as terrorists by the U.S. government.
Authorities allege Sadeghi and Abedininajafabadi, who was arrested in Milan, Italy by Italian authorities at the request of the U.S. government on Monday, worked together to help Iran and Iranian-backed militias carry out the drone attack.
Abedininajafabadi is accused of using his Iranian company SDRA, based in Switzerland, to evade U.S. export control and sanctions laws by procuring U.S. origin goods, services and technology from Sadeghi’s company in Norwood.
Authorities have said more charges could be coming.