A former contractor for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has pled guilty to charges of acting as an unauthorized agent of the Iranian government in the United States, the Justice Department disclosed. Abouzar Rahmati, 42, of Great Falls, Virginia, admitted to secretly working for Iranian officials and operatives by obfuscating his activities under a cover story, meeting with intelligence officers and government officials in Iran, and using his position to gather sensitive information from the U.S. aviation sector.
The U.S. Attorney's Office announcement clarified that Rahmati has been actively involved with the Iranian government since at least December 2017 through June 2024. He also engaged in acquiring and subsequently passing on materials related to the U.S. solar energy industry. U.S. District Judge Edward R. Martin, Jr., FBI Assistant Director in Charge Steven J. Jensen, and head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division Sue Bai collectively confirmed these details, outlining the scope of Rahmati's betrayal.
Rahmati now faces up to 10 years in prison for operating as a foreign agent without notifying the Attorney General and an additional maximum of 5 years for conspiracy. His sentencing is scheduled for August 26. Specifically, judges will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors to determine after his sentence.
According to the court documents, Rahmati's actions included not only covert communications and meetings but also securing employment with an FAA contractor to have access to sensitive, non-public information vital to national interests. The revelations from this case serve to remind the public of the continual and subtle threats to national security. As Rahmati awaits sentencing, his case stands as a stark illustration of the vigilance required to protect the intricate and often opaque mechanisms that keep the nation's skies—and indeed, its energy future—safe from the machinations of foreign powers.
