California Man Indicted for Illegally Exporting Aircraft Parts to Iran

A DOJ news release alleges Nader was arrested Tuesday in California for exporting the parts, including components used on military aircraft, to Iran in violation of U.S. economic sanctions and other federal laws. 

The indictment alleges that, beginning in 2023, Nader and other associates conspired to purchase and illegally export four types of aircraft components totaling nearly three dozen individual pieces from the U.S. to Iran. The release states that some of these components are used on military aircraft operated by Iran’s armed forces, including the F-4 fighter jet.

After allegedly receiving purchase orders from customers in Iran, the indictment claims Nader coordinated to buy the parts with business associates in Iran. Nader and his Iran-based associates would allegedly reach out to U.S.-based suppliers of these parts. 

The release states in several instances that Nader falsely identified himself and his company, California-based Pro Aero Capital, to the U.S.-based suppliers as the end user of the items. No additional information could be found regarding Pro Aero Capital, though a search of Nader’s LinkedIn profile shows his association with “Pro Aero Parts Inc.” The business’ Long Beach, California, location is listed as “permanently closed” on Google Maps.

After obtaining the parts, the indictment alleges he attempted to export the items on several occasions to the United Arab Emirates. The items were then to be shipped to the ultimate customer in Iran. These items, however, were detained by a special agent with the Department of Commerce, and none were successfully exported from the U.S.

“This action demonstrates the Justice Department’s commitment to keeping military-grade equipment out of the hands of the Iranian regime,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “We will aggressively investigate, disrupt, and hold accountable criminal networks that supply sensitive technology to hostile and repressive governments in contravention of U.S. sanctions.” 

DOJ said the FBI Washington Field Office and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security is investigating the case, with assistance provided by the FBI Los Angeles Field Office.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Wasserman for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Sean Heiden of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. 

The release stated that this prosecution is being coordinated through the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, an interagency law enforcement unit co-led by the departments of Justice and Commerce designed to target illicit actors, protect supply chains, and prevent critical technology from being acquired by authoritarian regimes and hostile nations.

“Iran has no business using U.S.-manufactured parts and components to keep their planes and drones in the sky,” said Matthew Axelrod, assistant secretary for export enforcement at the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, said in the statement. “Stopping these items before they get to our adversaries—like we did here—reflects the real-world impact we’re having through the Disruptive Technology Strike Force.”