A federal jury in the United States has found an Iranian-American citizen guilty of orchestrating an illegal network that sent sensitive technology with military applications to Tehran.
At the center of the investigation was an Iranian company that supplied navigation systems to the elite forces of the Revolutionary Guard, equipment later found installed on drones produced by Tehran.
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The 43-year-old defendant, employed by a U.S. semiconductor firm until his arrest in late 2024, was convicted on three counts of conspiracy and embargo violations, while the jury acquitted him on two other charges.
According to the prosecution, the engineer played a key role in sourcing and transferring sophisticated sensors and electronic components for the Iranian manufacturer of unmanned flight systems. To conceal the trail and bypass legal barriers, the equipment was initially rerouted to a company set up specifically in Switzerland, simulating that the country was the final destination of the goods.
Prosecutors argued that the U.S. manufacturer, whose identity was not made public, was completely unaware of the final Iranian destination of its components. According to them, this covert mechanism was precisely what was put in place to neutralize the control measures imposed by Washington.
The case gained particular weight due to its direct implications for Tehran’s military industry. Unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with these navigation systems have been used in the field by the Revolutionary Guard, thus linking the scheme directly to Iran’s strategic drone program.
Nevertheless, the court drew a clear distinction between this case and the tragic incident of January 2024, when a U.S. base in Jordan was struck, leaving three soldiers dead. Although prosecutors sought to prove that the same navigation model was used in that attack, the judge blocked this line of evidence, ruling that it would unduly prejudice the jury.
On the other hand, the defense team built its strategy on the premise of transparency and legality. They described the transactions as normal business operations and presented the Swiss firm not as a shell created for evasion, but as a legitimate enterprise focused on civilian technology for tracking and monitoring solutions.
The lawyers emphasized that their client had a stable life in the United States and had no motive to jeopardize it through deliberate violations of the law.
The court hearings had been delayed for several months out of fear that the harsh rhetoric between Washington and Tehran might affect the impartiality of the jury. At the opening of the trial, the defense addressed the jury with an appeal to focus exclusively on the evidence presented in the courtroom and to disregard geopolitical developments.
The 43-year-old now awaits sentencing, which is expected to be determined in October. This verdict serves as a strong warning to all those who attempt to evade the sanctions regime, showing that federal authorities are vigilant and determined to halt the flow of dual-use equipment.
