MA Man Charged In Iran-Backed Drone Strike Investigation: FBI

NATICK, MA — The Federal Bureau of Investigation raided a Natick home on Monday as part of an investigation into exports to Iran and a drone strike on a military base in Jordan that led to the deaths of three U.S. service members.

Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 42, a dual U.S.-Iranian national, of Natick, and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, also known as Mohammad Abedini, 38, of Tehran, Iran, have been charged with "conspiring to export sophisticated electronic components from the United States to Iran in violation of U.S. export control and sanctions laws," federal officials said.

Abedini is also charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. service members who were killed by a one-way attack drone on a military base in Jordan.

Sadeghi was arrested in Natick on Monday and made his initial appearance the same day in the District of Massachusetts. Abedini was also arrested Monday in Italy by Italian authorities at the request of the United States.

“Earlier this year, Iran-backed militias murdered three American soldiers and wounded dozens more in a brutal drone attack at the Tower 22 base in Jordan,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Today, working with our partners here and abroad, we have charged and arrested two men who conspired to evade U.S. sanctions and supply the Iranian government with the type of drone navigation technology used in that attack. Our message is unmistakable: if you provide support to the Iranian regime’s campaign of terror and violence targeting Americans – we will find you, arrest you, and hold you accountable in a U.S. court, no matter where you are.”

According to court documents, Abedini is the founder and managing director of an Iranian company, San’at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co. (SDRA or SADRA), that manufactures navigation modules used in the IRGC’s military drone program.

SDRA’s main business is the sale of a proprietary navigation system — known as the Sepehr Navigation System — to the IRGC, which the United States designated as an FTO on April 15, 2019.

The primary application of SDRA’s Sepehr Navigation System is for use in UAVs, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles. Sadeghi is currently employed by a Massachusetts-based microelectronics manufacturer and was one of the founders of a Massachusetts-based technology company that specializes in wearable sensors that provide kinetic monitoring for fitness applications.

As alleged in court documents, Abedini, Sadeghi, and others conspired to evade U.S. export control and sanctions laws by procuring U.S. origin goods, services, and technology from, among others, the company that employs Sadeghi and causing those goods, services, and technology to be exported or otherwise supplied to Iran and, in particular, Abedini’s Iranian company, SDRA, officials said.

As further alleged, in or around 2016, Sadeghi traveled to Iran to request funding for the company he founded from the Iranian National Elites Foundation (INEF), which is an Iranian governmental organization whose main purpose is to recognize, organize, and support Iran’s elite national talents, officials said.

In exchange for funding, which Sadeghi’s company ultimately received from the INEF, Sadeghi and others created a second company in Iran. Shortly after forming that company, Sadeghi entered into a contract with SDRA for the purchase of SDRA’s technology, officials said.

It is also alleged that, since in or around 2016, on multiple occasions, Sadeghi has helped Abedini procure U.S. export-controlled electronic components for Abedini’s use in Iran.

On Jan. 28, three U.S. service members were killed, and more than forty others were injured, in a drone attack by IRGC-backed militants on a military base located in northern Jordan, known as Tower 22.

According to court documents, FBI analysis of the drone that was recovered from the site of the attack showed that the drone was an Iranian Shahed UAV and that the navigation system used in the drone was the Sepehr Navigation System, which was manufactured by Abedini’s company, SDRA.

Sadeghi and Abedini were charged by criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economics Powers Act, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, three years supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

Abedini was also charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization, resulting in death, and one count of provision and attempted provision of material support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization, resulting in death, which carries a penalty of up to life in prison, lifetime supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs is providing assistance and is seeking extradition of Abedini from Italy.