An Iranian-American man in the U.S. has been found guilty of attempting to purchase surface-to-air missiles and aircraft parts with the aim of sending them to Iran. Reuters reported that a court in New York on Tuesday, December 2, found 56-year-old Reza Olangian guilty of violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. Mr. Olangian faces a minimum of 25 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment, but his defense attorneys have stated they will appeal the ruling. Reza Olangian obtained U.S. citizenship in 1999 but was arrested in Estonia in 2012 and extradited to the U.S. According to Reuters, this Iranian-American citizen was caught in a U.S. drug enforcement sting operation. The report states that Mr. Olangian met in Ukraine with a U.S. drug enforcement informant posing as a Russian arms dealer to purchase surface-to-air missiles and various military aircraft parts. In intercepted conversations and emails between the two, Mr. Olangian expressed his intention to export these weapons to Iran. Prosecutors in New York stated that this Iranian-American initially sought to buy ten surface-to-air missiles and dozens of military aircraft parts, later claiming he would buy at least 200 missiles. According to New York prosecutors, Reza Olangian had also attempted to buy 100 missiles in 2007 with the intention of sending them to Iran for substantial financial gain. Mr. Olangian's attorney stated in court that his client had been active in protests against the Iranian government while studying in the U.S., but returned to his home country after feeling that Iran had become more democratic. The exact dates of these events were not mentioned in the Reuters report, but it was noted that Reza Olangian established contacts with arms dealers after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government came to power. However, the attorney for this Iranian-American citizen claimed that he intended to 'trap the Iranian government with a paper contract and show what they are really capable of.' In this context, the U.S. Treasury Department issued a license for the 'sale of 106 Airbus aircraft' to Iran.
Iranian-American Convicted for Attempting to Send Missiles to Iran
Reza Olangian, an Iranian-American, was convicted in New York for attempting to buy missiles and aircraft parts to send to Iran, violating U.S. sanctions. He faces a lengthy prison sentence, and his case highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran regarding arms and sanctions.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Reza Olangian convicted for attempting to send missiles to Iran.
- U.S. court indict Reza Olangian
- Reza Olangian attempt Iran
- U.S. authorities arrest Reza Olangian
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The conviction of Reza Olangian reflects serious legal repercussions for attempts to violate U.S. sanctions.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%