(NewsNation) — The Department of Justice arrested a U.S.-Iranian national in California on Wednesday for allegedly attempting to send U.S. military-grade aircraft parts to Iran, according to a news release.
Jeffrey Chance Nader, 68, has been charged in connection with crimes related to exporting U.S.-manufactured aircraft components to Iran.
The activity violates U.S. economic sanctions and other federal laws, the DOJ said.
“This action demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to keeping military-grade equipment out of the hands of the Iranian regime,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
The DOJ said that starting in 2023, Nader conspired to buy and illegally export four types of aircraft components, which totaled nearly three dozen pieces, to Iran. The 68-year-old was allegedly acting on “purchase orders” from Iran.
Nader on multiple occasions falsely identified himself and his company to U.S. suppliers of the parts as the end user when purchasing them, prosecutors said. When Nader attempted to export the materials to the United Arab Emirates, they were intercepted by a special agent with the Department of Commerce.
None of Nader’s attempts to ship the components were successful, the DOJ said.
“Iran has no business using U.S.-manufactured parts and components to keep their planes and drones in the sky,” Matthew S. Axelrod, assistant secretary for Export Enforcement, said.
The investigation into the case remains ongoing.