U.S. Citizen Charged with Conspiring to Provide Electronic Equipment & Technology to Iranian Government

A dual Iranian-U.S. citizen has been arrested on criminal charges related to his alleged conspiracy to illegally export U.S. goods, technology and services to end users in Iran, including the Iranian government. 

In a statement, the US Justice Department said the actions of 44-year-old Kambiz Attar Kashani is in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

According to court documents, Kashani conspired to illegally export goods and technology to the Central Bank of Iran (CBI), which the U.S. government recognizes is an agency of the government of Iran.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division said Kashani concealed the reasons for exporting the goods. 

“Kashani repeatedly lied to numerous U.S. companies to conceal his intention to ship items to Iran, allowing him to illegally obtain information technology for use by the CBI and other Iranian entities.” 

U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York said Kashani allegedly used two United Arab Emirates companies as fronts to procure items from multiple U.S. technology companies, including a company in Brooklyn.

“Kashani orchestrated an elaborate scheme to evade U.S. export laws and use the U.S. financial system in procuring U.S. electronic equipment and technology for the CBI, which has been designated by the United States government as acting for or on behalf of terrorist organizations.” 

Kashani has been charged with one count of conspiracy to unlawfully export goods to Iran, and will make his initial court appearance in the Northern District of Illinois on Wednesday. 

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1 million fine.