In a move indicative of the federal government's uncompromising stance on illegal technology exports, 76-year-old Gholam Reza Goodarzi, also known as Ron Goodarzi, was arrested on Friday at George Bush Intercontinental Airport on charges related to smuggling sensitive U.S. technology to Iran; his initial appearance before the court has already taken place and he remains in custody pending a detention hearing, according to official sources.
Goodarzi, a dual U.S. and Iranian citizen, is accused of exporting parts for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other types of manned aircraft, mostly through indirect routes via Dubai, from December 1, 2020, through July 5, 2024; during this time he made frequent trips to Iran, often with the very components concealed in his checked luggage, as the U.S. Attorney's Office disclosed.
"Smuggling aircraft parts into Iran endangers U.S. national security by potentially enhancing Iran's military capabilities, enabling them to advance their aerial combat potential, increase regional power and threaten U.S. allies and interests in the Middle East," U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani stated, according to the same press release.
The case reveals a meticulous plot wherein Goodarzi allegedly engaged with suppliers and clients over email, acknowledging the restrictions on exports to Iran, yet still he went ahead with the ventures, evading sanctions imposed on Iran; he did this without the necessary licenses for the export of controlled items, which if convicted, could lead to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine that might reach $250,000, as per the FBI's investigation and with the assistance of Customs and Border Protection informs the announcement.
The FBI has spearheaded the probe with backing from CBP as a part of the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, a collective focusing on preventing hostile nations from obtaining vital U.S. tech; Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winter and Trial Attorney Christopher Cook of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are leading the case's prosecution.
