Iranian-American Citizen Accused of Sending Sensitive Technology to Iran Denies Charges

Mehdi Mohammad Sadeghi, an Iranian-American citizen arrested in connection with sending sensitive components to Iran and their use in a drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan, declared his innocence. According to Reuters, Mehdi Mohammad Sadeghi on Friday, December 28, denied the charges against him in a federal court in Boston regarding involvement in a scheme to violate U.S. export control laws and sanctions. About two weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Justice accused Mehdi Mohammad Sadeghi and Mohammad Abedini of sending components to Iran that were used in a drone attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan, resulting in three fatalities. Mehdi Mohammad Sadeghi was arrested in Massachusetts, while Mohammad Abedini was simultaneously detained at Milan Airport in Italy at the request of the U.S. In court on Friday, prosecutors stated that Mohammad Abedini managed a company named 'Sanat Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak,' which was a primary customer of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and used its products in the GPS systems of its military drones. Previously, the chief prosecutor of Massachusetts had said that the arrests of these two individuals occurred after FBI specialists found traces of GPS components in the drone that targeted the U.S. base in Jordan. The drone attack on the U.S. military base in northeastern Jordan, known as 'Tower 22,' occurred on January 28 of last year, resulting in the deaths of three American soldiers and injuries to more than 40 others. Mehdi Mohammad Sadeghi had previously worked for 'Analog Devices,' a semiconductor manufacturer based in Boston, and according to prosecutors, it was with his assistance that Mohammad Abedini's company contracted with Analog Devices, ultimately leading to the transfer of sensitive components to Iran. Prosecutors also stated in court on Friday that Mehdi Mohammad Sadeghi traveled to Iran in 2016 to seek financial assistance from a government entity for a company he co-founded. Mr. Sadeghi's defense attorney reported progress in negotiations with prosecutors for his client's release on bail, and the judge announced that the next session, scheduled for January 2, would rule on this matter. Meanwhile, Italian police stated on Wednesday that the extradition of Mohammad Abedini to the U.S. is under review, and the appellate court will address this case in the coming days. According to Italian police, some documents and electronic components were found and seized from this Iranian citizen's suitcase that 'are consistent with the crimes charged by the U.S. court.' Iranian officials denied involvement in the drone attack on 'Tower 22' last year. Last week, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced the summoning of the Swiss ambassador and the Italian chargé d'affaires in Tehran, stating that the Islamic Republic's objections regarding the arrests of Mehdi Mohammad Sadeghi and Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi were conveyed to them. Some media outlets, including The New York Times, Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal, noted that the arrest of an Italian journalist in Tehran occurred just days after the arrest of Mohammad Abedini in Italy.