US citizen found guilty of helping export tech to Iran in violation of sanctions

BOSTON (AP) 鈥� A Massachusetts man was found guilty Monday of conspiring to unlawfully export electronic components to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions.

, who worked at the global electronics company Analog Devices, was accused of helping an Iranian business associate get around American export control laws. U.S. prosecutors say the business associate鈥檚 Tehran-based company makes navigation systems for the military of Iran鈥檚 Revolutionary Guard. Authorities say the scheme included the creation of a front company in Switzerland.

The second defendant, Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, called Abedini in court documents, was not on trial. He is believed to be in Iran after an apparent for an Italian journalist.

Sadeghi was found guilty on three of the five charges. He showed no visible reaction to the verdict, which came early in the fourth day of jury deliberations. He and his lawyers did not comment as they left court, and he will remain free until sentencing Oct. 13

Sadeghi, a 43-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, chose not to testify. A father of two, he lost his job at due to the charges. Although he was arrested in December 2024, long before the current , his trial has unfolded during the conflict.

鈥淎t its core, this case is straightforward. You cannot send goods, especially the goods at issue in this case, to Iran. Period. Full stop,鈥� Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter told the jury. 鈥淭he defendant knew that, and conspired with Mr. Abedini to do that.鈥�

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Dolan, in his closing remarks, said documents, text messages and photos proved that the illegal acts were the 鈥渇ruits of this relationship鈥� between Sadeghi and Abedini.

鈥淭he evidence established that he knew what Abedini was doing because he told him in writing,鈥� Dolan said. 鈥淗e helped him anyway.鈥�

Sadeghi’s attorney, William Fick, told jurors that the scheme laid out by the prosecution 鈥渕akes no sense鈥� and was full of holes. He said Sadeghi was only offering advice to a longtime friend about how to get business with the semiconductor company, and wasn鈥檛 responsible for procuring the parts for Abedini.

Fick said there was no proof the parts ended up in Iran, and he disputed that the Swiss company was a front.

鈥淚f you look at the world through dirty glasses, everything looks dirty,鈥� Fick said. 鈥淭hat is fundamentally what the prosecution is asking you to do here.鈥�

Fick also said prosecutors hadn’t shown Sadeghi gained anything from the alleged plan 鈥� although the prosecution pointed out that they didn’t need to prove a motive.

鈥淗e had nothing to gain and everything to lose,鈥� Fick said. 鈥淗e has lived in the country for decades. He was a well-regarded, respected employee on his way up in the company.鈥�

Prosecutors had hoped to during the trial related to an Iranian drone used in a 2024 attack that killed at a remote base in Jordan.

However, before the trial, defense attorneys sought to exclude any evidence related to Abedini鈥檚 role in drone manufacturing or attacks on American troops.

The judge agreed, ruling that prosecutors could only give general evidence about Abedini鈥檚 Iranian company and how its technology had potential military applications, including for drones. During a hearing in February, prosecutors acknowledged they didn鈥檛 have evidence that Sadeghi 鈥渒new anything鈥� about the technology he was accused of exporting was allegedly used on the drone involved in the Jordan attack.

Both defendants have been charged with export control violations. Abedini is separately charged with conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization that resulted in the deaths of three service members.

Abedini was arrested at an airport in Italy on a U.S. warrant in December 2024, but was released a month later and returned to Iran. Three days after his arrest, Italian was detained while reporting in Iran. Sala, who was believed held as a bargaining chip for Abedini鈥檚 release, returned home in January 2025.

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