US court finds man guilty of exporting tech to Iran violating sanctions

A Massachusetts man, Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, has been convicted of conspiring to export electronic components to Iran, a violation of U.S. sanctions. Sadeghi, who worked for the global electronics company Analog Devices, was accused of helping an Iranian business associate circumvent American export control laws. Prosecutors asserted that this associate's Tehran-based company develops navigation systems for Iran's Revolutionary Guard military drone program.

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At its core, this case is straightforward. You cannot send goods, especially the goods at issue in this case, to Iran. Period. Full stop.

The scheme, according to authorities, involved the creation of a front company in Switzerland. Sadeghi was found guilty on three of the five charges after a jury deliberated for four days. He showed no outward reaction to the verdict and is awaiting sentencing on October 13. He lost his job at Analog Devices due to the charges.

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The evidence established that he knew what Abedini was doing because he told him in writing. He helped him anyway.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter told the jury that the case was straightforward: "You cannot send goods, especially the goods at issue in this case, to Iran. Period. Full stop." She added that Sadeghi knew this and conspired with his associate to do so. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan presented evidence, including documents, text messages, and photos, to prove the illegal acts were the "fruits of this relationship" between Sadeghi and his associate.

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The scheme laid out by the prosecution makes no sense and was full of holes.

Conversely, Sadeghi's attorney, William Fick, argued that the prosecution's case "makes no sense" and was riddled with inconsistencies. He claimed Sadeghi was merely offering advice to a friend about business dealings and was not responsible for procuring parts for the associate. Fick also questioned whether the parts actually reached Iran and disputed the nature of the Swiss company. He suggested the prosecution was viewing the situation "through dirty glasses" and noted that prosecutors had not shown Sadeghi benefited from the alleged plan, though motive was not required for conviction.

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If you look at the world through dirty glasses, everything looks dirty. That is fundamentally what the prosecution is asking you to do here.