Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 42, a dual U.S.-Iranian national from Natick, Massachusetts, and Mohammad Abedini, 38, from Tehran, face charges for conspiring to illegally export advanced electronic components from the U.S. to Iran, violating export controls and sanctions. Abedini is also charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), linked to the deaths of three U.S. service members in a drone attack at a military base in Jordan.

Sadeghi was arrested today and made his initial court appearance in Massachusetts, while Abedini was apprehended in Italy at the request of U.S. authorities.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, “Today’s charges and arrests highlight our commitment to hold accountable those who enable the Iranian regime to target Americans and threaten our national security.”