US-Iran tensions escalate as Iran protests the arrests of its citizens on charges of exporting sensitive technology, raising concerns about international relations and sanctions.
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| Iran vehemently protests the US arrests of two Iranian nationals accused of supplying technology used in a deadly drone attack in Jordan, denying any involvement. Symbolic image |
Tehran, Iran - December 22, 2024:
Tehran has formally protested the arrests of two Iranian nationals, one in Italy and another in the US, on charges of illegally exporting sensitive US technology to Iran. The US alleges this technology was used in a deadly drone attack in Jordan.
The US Department of Justice accused Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, a dual US-Iranian citizen, and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi of conspiring to export sophisticated electronic components in violation of US sanctions. These components, according to the US, were utilized in a January drone attack that killed three US servicemen.
Iran vehemently denies any involvement in the attack and dismisses the US accusations as baseless.
In response to the arrests, Iranian Foreign Ministry official Vahid Jalalzadeh expressed strong condemnation, stating that both the US sanctions against Iran and these arrests contravene international laws and standards.
The Iranian government has summoned the Italian chargé d'affaires and the Swiss ambassador (representing US interests in Iran) to formally register its protest over these detentions.
Abedininajafabadi was apprehended in Italy at the request of the US government, while Sadeghi was arrested within the United States.