A California man has been indicted on charges of unlawfully attempting to send aircraft components to Iran, U.S. authorities announced, pointing to a case that highlights the complexities of enforcing economic sanctions. Jeffrey Chance Nader, 66, of Arcadia, was taken into custody following an indictment that accused him of conspiring to purchase and export military-grade equipment, including parts for F-4 fighter jets used by Iran's armed forces.

Beginning in 2023, Nader allegedly coordinated with business associates in Iran to source these items from suppliers across the United States, effectively skirting U.S. sanctions that prohibit such dealings with the Iranian government, reportedly masking his intentions by posing as the end-user of the procured items, none of the transactions were successful as they were intercepted by a Department of Commerce Special Agent. According to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office, "Attacks by Iran and its proxies on U.S. allies in the Middle East and its ongoing supply of Russia with drones and other technology to be used in its illegal war against Ukraine demonstrate why we must do all that we can to stop Iran from acquiring U.S. parts, services, and technology," a sentiment echoed by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen emphasized the risks such violations pose to national security, saying, "We will aggressively investigate, disrupt, and hold accountable criminal networks that supply sensitive technology to hostile and repressive governments in contravention of U.S. sanctions," the procurement scheme not only undermines sanctions but could also provide military benefits to adversarial nations, according to U.S. Attorney's Office. The FBI and the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security are conducting the investigation, with support from the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office.

Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod stated, “Iran has no business using U.S.-manufactured parts and components to keep their planes and drones in the sky” noting the importance of stopping these items before they reach adversaries like Iran, this approach is part of the broader Disruptive Technology Strike Force's strategy—an initiative co-led by the Departments of Justice and Commerce designed to prevent the acquisition of critical technology by authoritarian regimes and nation-state, as reported by U.S. Attorney's Office.