Engineer pleads not guilty in US case of helping Iran's drone program

A former engineer for a semiconductor company, Mahdi Sadeghi, pleaded not guilty in federal court on Friday to charges of illegally procuring US technology for an Iranian company linked to a drone attack that killed three US service members in January.

Sadeghi was indicted on December 19, along with the arrest of Mohammad Abedini in Milan, Italy, who was also involved in illegal military technology transfers to Iran.

Sadeghi, a dual US-Iranian citizen, was charged with violating US export control and sanctions laws. His arrest on December 16 led to his dismissal from Analog Devices, where he had worked since 2019. Prosecutors allege that Sadeghi used his position to facilitate the procurement of US-origin electronic components for San’at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co, an Iranian navigation systems manufacturer headed by Mohammad Abedini.

On Friday, news emerged that an Italian reporter, Cecelia Sala, 29, was detained in Iran on the same day when the news about Sadeghi and Abedini became public. In the past, Iran has detained foreigners in similar cases to later exchange them with its agents arrested in the West.

According to prosecutors, Abedini's company supplied navigation systems to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for use in military drones. One such drone was reportedly involved in an attack on Tower 22, a US outpost near the Syrian border in Jordan, which killed three Army Reserve soldiers and injured 47 others.

The White House attributed the attack to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed militant groups. Iran, however, has denied involvement, with its foreign ministry calling the arrests of Sadeghi and Abedini a violation of international law.

Court filings reveal that Sadeghi traveled to Iran in 2016 seeking funding for a startup. Through an affiliated company, he allegedly began procuring U.S. technology for Abedini’s firm. Prosecutors claim that, after joining Analog Devices, Sadeghi helped Abedini’s Swiss front company secure contracts with the Massachusetts-based firm, allowing Abedini to access sensitive technology.

The components procured were reportedly used in the navigation system of the drone involved in the attack.

Sadeghi has remained in custody since his arrest. A hearing is scheduled for January 2 to determine potential bail conditions as discussions between the defense and prosecutors continue.