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The US Justice Department on Monday charged two Iranians with conspiring to export sensitive US technology to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including navigation systems used in military drones that killed three US service members.
Dual US-Iranian national Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 42, a resident of Natick, Massachusetts, and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, 38, of Tehran, were charged with violating US export control and sanctions laws.
Abedini is also accused of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization — the IRGC — resulting in the deaths of three American soldiers in a January drone attack on a Jordanian military base.
The US defense department indicated at the time that an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, Kata'ib Hezbollah, was responsible for the strike. It was the deadliest attack on US troops since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel sparked a sprawling conflict pitting Israel - long armed and supported by Washington - against groups loyal to Tehran.
Sadeghi was arrested in Massachusetts, while Abedini was detained in Italy at the request of US authorities. Both face up to 20 years in prison, with Abedini also facing charges that could result in life imprisonment.
“The Justice Department will hold accountable those who enable the Iranian regime to target and kill Americans and undermine the national security of the United States,” said US Attorney General Merrick Garland.
According to court filings, Abedini founded San’at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co. (SDRA), an Iranian company that produces the Sepehr Navigation System, used in IRGC military drones, cruise, and ballistic missiles. Sadeghi, a former founder of a Massachusetts technology company, allegedly conspired to procure US-origin components through illicit channels for SDRA, violating export laws.
The investigation revealed that SDRA’s navigation systems were integral to the Shahed drones used in the January 28 attack on the Tower 22 base in Jordan, which killed three service members and injured more than 40 others.
The US government is now seeking Abedini’s extradition from Italy.
