Dual U.S. and Iranian Citizen Arrested for Unlawfully Exporting U.S. Technology to Iran
This apparently was news to Gholam Reza Goodarzi, a.k.a Ron Goodarzi, 76, a dual U.S./ Iranian citizen. Goodarzi, who lives in Porter, Texas, was arrested on Aug. 30 at George Bush International Airport on charges of smuggling technology from the U.S. to Iran, according to a DOJ press release. He first appeared in court on Sept. 3 in Texas’ Southern District.
Aircraft Parts and Dual-Use Technology
Goodarzi is accused in a sealed criminal complaint of smuggling components for manned aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the press release details. “For years, the defendant allegedly used proxy destinations to try to smuggle UAV components and other controlled technology to Iran, even concealing controlled items in his own luggage,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Between Dec. 1, 2020, and July 5, 2024, Goodarzi exported U.S. manufactured parts belonging to various manned and unmanned aircraft, as well as components of oil and drilling machinery from the U.S. to Iran, prosecutors say. Goodarzi allegedly bought the parts from U.S.-based suppliers and transported them, usually through Dubai, UAE, to Iran.
Goodarzi emailed his customers and suppliers about U.S. sanctions against Iran, where he allegedly acknowledged that the parts his customers wanted could not be shipped to Iran due to those sanctions, according to the press release.
Traveling to Iran multiple times a year, Goodarzi hid components of airplanes and other machinery within the clothing of his checked luggage, prosecutors say. On several occasions, authorities searched Goodarzi’s luggage and found components compatible with aircraft parts, electrical motors and generators.
ITAR Violations
The U.S. has imposed various sanctions on Iran since the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, when Iranian revolutionaries overran the U.S. embassy in Tehran and took diplomats hostage, holding them for 444 days. The U.S. Department of State has also imposed additional sanctions against Iran over the years for various alleged offenses, according to their public statements.
When Goodarzi allegedly transported these products to Iran, he violated the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), authorized by Section 38 of the Arms Export Control Act, which requires a company or exporter to register with the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) and apply for an export license. As these are banned components under the sanctions, that license would not have been granted.
Goodarzi faces up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine if he is convicted, according to the DOJ press release. The Daily Muck will be following this case.
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