US man tryied to sell bomb components to Iran
LONDON, May 11 (IranMania) - An American of Iranian descent has pleaded guilty to trying to export to Iran components that could be used to make bombs, in violation of a US trade embargo, officials said, AFP reported.
Los Angeles resident Mohammad Fazeli, 27, was arrested on March 16 on charges of trying to ship sensors that can be used in explosive devices to Iran.
On Monday, he admitted one-count of seeking to illegally export more than 100 of the Honeywell sensors to Iran, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) said in a statement.
"The sensors, which detect the pressure of liquid or gas, could potentially be used to detonate explosive devices," the agency said.
The planned shipment breached the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which since the late 1970s has barred the shipment of technology to Iran's Islamic regime without the express permission of US authorities.
US officials say that in September 2004, Fazeli ordered 103 pressure sensors through a website operated by a US electronics company, despite being warned by the firm that he needed a license in order to export the devices.
"Despite that, after receiving the parts, Fazeli allegedly attempted to send them to the United Arab Emirates, with the understanding that the devices would ultimately be shipped to Iran," ICE said.
Fazeli, who remains free on 50,000 dollar bail, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7 and faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years for violating the IEEPA.
The conviction comes as the Iranian government has stepped up efforts to obtain US weapons technology for spare parts to maintain its aging US-made air force jets, its missile equipment and for its alleged nuclear weapons programme, according to federal law enforcement authorities quoted by the Washington Post.
The United States and its allies are at loggerheads with Iran over its nuclear programme, which the US fears could eventually be used to produce weapons.
Los Angeles resident Mohammad Fazeli, 27, was arrested on March 16 on charges of trying to ship sensors that can be used in explosive devices to Iran.
On Monday, he admitted one-count of seeking to illegally export more than 100 of the Honeywell sensors to Iran, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) said in a statement.
"The sensors, which detect the pressure of liquid or gas, could potentially be used to detonate explosive devices," the agency said.
The planned shipment breached the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which since the late 1970s has barred the shipment of technology to Iran's Islamic regime without the express permission of US authorities.
US officials say that in September 2004, Fazeli ordered 103 pressure sensors through a website operated by a US electronics company, despite being warned by the firm that he needed a license in order to export the devices.
"Despite that, after receiving the parts, Fazeli allegedly attempted to send them to the United Arab Emirates, with the understanding that the devices would ultimately be shipped to Iran," ICE said.
Fazeli, who remains free on 50,000 dollar bail, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7 and faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years for violating the IEEPA.
The conviction comes as the Iranian government has stepped up efforts to obtain US weapons technology for spare parts to maintain its aging US-made air force jets, its missile equipment and for its alleged nuclear weapons programme, according to federal law enforcement authorities quoted by the Washington Post.
The United States and its allies are at loggerheads with Iran over its nuclear programme, which the US fears could eventually be used to produce weapons.
posted by Marko at 5/11/2006 07:41:00 AM
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