| incident | terrorism |
|---|---|
| Location | Jordan |
| Injured | 47 |
| Arrests | 2 |
| Caused | Export more sensitive technology |
In a dramatic incident testing international relations, two men suspected of exporting highly sensitive U.S. technology to Iran have been arrested – technology that was used in a deadly drone attack on American soldiers in Jordan! The arrests are made by US authorities and shine a bright light on the dark dealings in the shadows of the global technology market.
The two suspects are 38-year-old Mohammad Abedini, an Iranian-American and co-founder of an Iranian company, and 42-year-old Mahdi Sadeghi, an employee of Massachusetts-based semiconductor manufacturer Analog Devices. Both are suspected of violating U.S. export laws by creating technology used in a devastating drone attack on a U.S. military base in Jordan in January. Three US soldiers were killed and 47 others were injured in this attack!
The fatal attack and its consequences
Responsibility for the attack was attributed to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a group of Iran-backed fighters. The incident occurred near the Syrian border and has significantly exacerbated the security situation in the region. The US authorities are now reacting harshly to this threat.
“Today, working with our partners here and abroad, we charged and arrested two men who attempted to evade U.S. sanctions and provide the Iranian government with drone navigation technology that was used in this attack,” said Lisa Monaco, the US Deputy Attorney General, in an official statement. These words underscore the US government's determination to crack down on such illegal activities.
The arrests and the investigations
Abedini was arrested in Milan, Italy, at the request of the U.S. government, which is now seeking his extradition. Sadeghi, a US citizen of Iranian origin, was also arrested in Massachusetts. During a brief hearing, Sadeghi was deemed a flight risk and will remain in custody until the next hearing.
The FBI's investigation revealed that the sophisticated navigation equipment used in the drone was manufactured by Abedini's company, SDRA, in Iran. Abedini is said to have used a company in Switzerland as a front to procure US technologies from Sadeghi's employer. These technologies include, among others, accelerometers and gyroscopes, which were then sent to Iran.
“Since 2016, Sadeghi has helped obtain U.S. export-controlled electronic components on multiple occasions,” the U.S. Department of Justice said. These revelations shed disturbing light on the methods by which useful technologies can end up in the wrong hands.
Analog Devices, Sadeghi's employer, confirmed that he worked for the company and emphasized that it is cooperating with law enforcement authorities to prevent unauthorized access to and misuse of products and technologies. The U.S. government coordinated the prosecution of the two men through the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency force focused on combating “illegal actors” and aimed at protecting valuable technologies from hostile states.
Analyzed sources confirming this report: 20
Social media comments analyzed: 102
Analyzed forum posts: 38
