FBI Investigation into an Iranian Transportation Company in Los Angeles

ABC News in the United States has reported that federal agents in Los Angeles are investigating a transportation company and its Iranian owner. This company began operating through an immigration program in the U.S. that allows wealthy foreign investors to obtain visas and green cards by investing between $500,000 and $1 million. According to police sources, the company's name appeared in a confidential Department of Homeland Security document, raising concerns that Iranian government agents might exploit this special visa program to infiltrate the U.S. Informed sources in the agency overseeing the immigration program told ABC that they were shocked by their inability to disqualify the company after security warnings. The note recalls that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran has attempted to utilize this route to infiltrate the U.S. ABC states that this program could provide a suitable way for wealthy foreign investors to expedite their green card acquisition. They must invest between $500,000 and $1 million in a guaranteed company or project that creates jobs in the U.S. to benefit from it. The report cites U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, who mentioned that some security sources recently shared the issue of American Logistics with him. On the other hand, company officials declined an interview request, but one of the company's lawyers stated that neither the company nor its owner, Alireza Mahdavi, has been involved in illegal activities. The ABC report indicates that the company still insists that this certification is part of the immigration visa program. The report notes that a former TTC employee is suspected of connections to an Iranian terrorist network involved in bombing plots and some failed assassination attempts. In 2012, federal government sources formally advised immigration officials not to renew American Logistics' eligibility for the immigration program, warning that the continued operation of this program could have serious national security implications. ABC states that Senator Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a critic of granting visas to foreign investors, has expressed concerns and issued warnings regarding this matter.