US-Iranian national indicted for exporting aircraft components to Iran

ISTANBUL

A US-Iranian national was indicted for unlawfully exporting aircraft components to Iran, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Jeffrey Chance Nader, 66, was charged with crimes related to the illicit export of American manufactured aircraft components, including the ones used on military aircraft, to Iran in violation of US economic sanctions and other federal laws, it said.

Nader was arrested Tuesday in California, said the Justice Department.

"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," said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

Nader and other associates conspired to purchase and illegally export four types of aircraft components totaling nearly three dozen individual pieces, according to the indictment.

Some of these components are for use on military aircraft operated by Iran’s armed forces, including the F-4 fighter jet, it added.

Matthew M. Graves, US Attorney for the District of Columbia, said "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."