Key facts
- Mahdi Sadeghi, an Iranian-born engineer and dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, was convicted of conspiring to illegally export technology to Iran.
- The technology exported had potential applications in military drones.
- The intended recipient company in Iran, SDRA, had customers including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- Sadeghi worked at Analog Devices prior to his arrest in December 2024.
- A jury acquitted Sadeghi on two counts related to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
An Iranian-born engineer, Mahdi Sadeghi, has been convicted by a federal jury in Boston on charges of conspiring to illegally export technology with potential applications in military drones to Iran. Sadeghi, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen and resident of Massachusetts, had worked at Analog Devices before his arrest in December 2024.
The jury found Sadeghi guilty on three counts, including conspiracy to export technology to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions, but acquitted him on two other counts related to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani has scheduled his sentencing for October 13.
Prosecutors alleged that Sadeghi conspired with Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini, who they say ran a company that produced a navigation system used in Iran's military drones. Abedini was arrested in Italy at the U.S. government's request but was released in January 2025. Sadeghi proceeded to trial alone, with the judge barring evidence of a specific drone attack in Jordan to avoid prejudice.
The case centered on Sadeghi's alleged efforts to procure and export technology, particularly sensors, from Analog Devices to Abedini's company, SDRA. Prosecutors claimed that at Sadeghi's suggestion, Analog Devices supplied electronic parts to a Swiss-based company founded by Abedini, unaware that the technology would be funneled to Iran. Defense lawyers contended that the business dealings were legitimate and transparent, and Abedini's Swiss company was a genuine firm.