The Department of Justice announced Friday that a former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contractor has been charged with being an illegal agent of the Iranian government.
According to To the Department of Justice releasefrom at least December 2017 to June 2024, Abuzar Rahmati, 42, allegedly met with Iranian government officials and acted on their behalf.
Mr. Rahmati, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of Great Falls, Virginia, served as a lieutenant in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), a branch of the Iranian military, from June 2009 to May 2010. The IRGC is a designated terrorist organization. By the US government.
After being discharged from the Revolutionary Guards, Rahmati allegedly lied to the U.S. government about his military service in the Revolutionary Guards in order to obtain a job as a U.S. contractor, according to the indictment.
Three Iranian-linked hackers charged in conspiracy against Trump campaign: Department of Justice
Abuzar Rahmati was charged as an agent of the Iranian government. (U.S. Department of Justice)
In August 2017, prosecutors alleged that Mr. Rahmati began communicating with Iranian government officials who had previously attended the university.
Four months later, Rahmati traveled to Iran and met with intelligence agents. During the meeting, he agreed to obtain and provide information about the U.S. solar energy industry.
After the first meeting, Rahmati was assigned to work as a spy for the Iranian government. Prosecutors said he eventually became a contractor for the FAA's National Airspace System (NAS), which gave him access to classified information.
Authorities alleged that in April 2022, Mr. Rahmati downloaded non-public documents related to FAA and NAS power and electrical architecture and passed them on to the Iranian government.
Does Iran's hacking of the Trump campaign prove it wants Kamala Harris to win the election? Experts weigh in
He also provided additional information to the Iranian government regarding solar energy, solar panels, the FAA, U.S. airports, and U.S. air traffic control.
A Federal Aviation Administration sign on the tower at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, March 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
“As alleged, the defendants conspired with Iranian officials and intelligence agents and even lied to obtain employment as contractors for the U.S. government,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division. , and then shared classified government materials with Iran.” . “When private operatives of Iran or other foreign governments attempt to infiltrate American businesses or government agencies, the Department of Justice will use every means possible to identify and bring them to justice.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Rahmani made his first appearance in the District of Columbia on Friday afternoon.
