Arrest of Two Iranians in the U.S. for Allegedly Sending Fighter Parts to Iran

U.S. judicial officials announced on Friday, October 29, the arrest of two Iranian-American men in California for violating sanctions against Tehran and attempting to send weapons to Iran. According to Reuters, the accused, 52-year-old Zawik Zargarian and 57-year-old Vacheh Niryian, residents of the Los Angeles suburbs, are charged with attempting to send aircraft parts and other defense equipment worth three million dollars to Iran. The U.S. federal prosecutor described the charges as a 'serious threat to U.S. national security.' The U.S. Department of Justice stated that Mr. Zargarian negotiated with a U.S. government security officer to supply and send parts for F-16 and F-18 fighter jets to Iran, while Mr. Niryian attempted to send over seven thousand rubber washers used in military aircraft hydraulic systems to Iran. The report also mentioned that there are two other Iranian defendants named Henry Terminacian and Hormoz Nourouzian, who are likely currently in Iran. The California-based company 'Glendale Zargarian' has also been identified as the fifth defendant in this case. According to Reuters, if the charges are proven, Zawik Zargarian could face up to 115 years in prison, and Vacheh Niryian could face up to 95 years, in addition to fines ranging from three to four million dollars each. Zawik Zargarian and Vacheh Niryian have denied the charges. The proceedings for this case are set to begin on December 20. Arrests in the U.S. and Europe for violating sanctions and sending weapons to Iran have precedent. According to U.S. sanctions law against Iran, the sale of any equipment, technology, and services to Iran is prohibited, except for specific exceptions.