Two Iranian citizens charged in connection to drone strike that killed 3 US soldiers in Jordan

Two Iranian citizens have been charged in connection to a drone strike in Jordan earlier this year, which killed three US Army soldiers and injured dozens more, according to the US Justice Department’s announcement on Monday.

The two men, Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, 42, and Mohammad Abedini, 38, are facing charges related to conspiring to export electronic equipment from the United States to Iran. Sadeghi, a dual US-Iranian citizen living in Massachusetts, appeared in court for his initial hearing on Monday. Abedini, who is also accused of providing material support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was arrested in Italy on Monday.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized that the arrests underline the Justice Department’s commitment to holding accountable those who facilitate actions that threaten US national security. “Today’s arrests demonstrate that the Justice Department will hold accountable those who enable the Iranian regime to continue to target and kill Americans and undermine the national security of the United States,” Garland said in a press release.

Sadeghi and Abedini are accused of bypassing US sanctions by facilitating the export of US-made technology to Iran. Sadeghi worked at a microelectronics manufacturing company in Massachusetts, which allegedly sent US technology to Abedini’s Iranian company, responsible for making navigation modules for drones used in the IRGC’s military operations.

The drone attack, which occurred in January 2024, targeted a small US outpost in Jordan and marked the first instance of US casualties from enemy fire in the Middle East since the onset of the Gaza war. The attack killed three US soldiers and injured more than 30 others. The Iranian government has denied any involvement in the attack on Tower 22, the outpost where the incident occurred.

An investigation led by the FBI recovered the drone used in the attack, which was analyzed and found to contain a navigation system made by Abedini’s company. This analysis confirmed the Iranian connection to the strike. According to reports, the drone followed a different American drone as it approached the US military outpost along the Syrian border, although it remains unclear whether this was a deliberate targeting or a coincidental event.

This attack is part of a broader pattern of US military targets being targeted by drones in the Middle East, with mounting concerns about the role of Iran and its affiliated groups in such incidents. The US has continued to raise alarm over the growing use of drones by Iranian-backed forces in the region.

Abedini’s arrest in Italy and the charges against both men highlight the international scope of the investigation into the attack. The US authorities are keen to hold those responsible for facilitating and supporting these kinds of attacks accountable, particularly when they involve such sophisticated technology that has been transferred in violation of US sanctions.

Both men are facing serious charges, and the Justice Department’s statement underscores its resolve to address actions that threaten the lives of American personnel and the country’s security interests. The legal process is now underway, with further developments expected as both Sadeghi and Abedini face legal proceedings in the US and abroad.

This case also serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions in the Middle East and the efforts by the US to curb Iranian influence and actions that target American interests in the region. The investigation into the drone strike and the arrests of the two individuals further illustrate the complex international efforts to disrupt the flow of military technology and prevent further escalation of attacks targeting US forces.

The situation remains fluid, and the outcomes of these legal proceedings will be closely watched as part of the broader geopolitical context involving the US, Iran, and its allies.

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