Arrest of two on charges of helping Iran shows danger of sanctuary policies, MassGOP says

The arrest of two Iranian men, one of whom was found living in Massachusetts, in connection with a fatal drone strike that killed several U.S. military members is just further proof that supporting so-called “sanctuary city” policies is dangerous, according to the chair of the MassGOP.

After the FBI announced the apprehension of Mahdi Mohammad Sadeghi, who prosecutors revealed works at a Massachusetts-based semiconductor company, and Mohammad Abedininajafabadi, who was arrested Monday in Italy, MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale said that Sadeghi’s presence in Bay State gets to the heart of what’s wrong with the commonwealth’s too-liberal immigration policies.

“The language used by Massachusetts Democratic leaders in describing our state as a sanctuary to the international community and that they won’t cooperate with federal authorities, sends a dangerous signal to bad actors around the world. It tells them that Massachusetts is a safe haven where they can evade prosecution from the United States federal government,” she said in a statement.

According to prosecutors, both Sadeghi and Abedininajafabadi will be prosecuted by the United States federal government over export control violations, while the latter also faces a charge of providing material support to Iran, following analysis of parts from a drone used in an attack against U.S. forces stationed in Jordan earlier this year.

Three soldiers from Georgia — Sgt. William Jerome Rivers of Carrollton, Sgt. Breonna Moffett of Savannah and Sgt. Kennedy Sanders of Waycross — were killed when a drone attacked Tower 22, a U.S. outpost in northeastern Jordan, on January 28. Dozens more soldiers were injured in the attack.

The drone was launched by an Iranian-backed militia based in Iraq, but some of the technology inside of it was ours, according to federal prosecutors.

“We often cite hypothetical risk when we talk about the dangers of American technology getting into dangerous hands,” U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy said. “Unfortunately, in this situation, we are not speculating.”

Prosecutors say Sadeghi is a naturalized U.S. citizen who holds dual Iranian citizenship. According to a LinkedIn profile that appears to belong to him, he earned a PhD in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of Michigan after studying engineering at the University of Tehran. He currently works as a micro/nano electro-mechanical systems “technology group product marketing manager” for Analog Devices Inc. in Wilmington.

A spokesperson for ADI said in a statement that the company “takes its compliance obligations and role in national security very seriously” and that they have and will continue cooperating with investigators.

“ADI is committed to preventing unauthorized access to and misuse of our products and technology,” they said.

Abedininajafabad, prosecutors say, has direct connections to the Iranian government.

Justice Department officials say his company produces the navigation systems used by Iran’s military drone program, including for the country’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Prosecutors allege he created a front company in Switzerland to procure sensitive U.S. technology from Sadeghi on Iran’s behalf. The navigation system used in the attack on Tower 22, prosecutors say, contained navigation equipment developed by Abedininajafabad’s Tehran-based company.

According to Levy, both men have conspired to evade U.S. export laws in order to share U.S. technology with Iran since 2016, and the deadly consequences of their alleged crimes were made clear in January.

“The grave potential damage from the leak of American technology overseas came to fruition,” Levy said.

“To the people who were injured by this attack, to the loved ones and family members of the people who lost their lives, as the son of a combat veteran I humbly hope that today’s charges bring some measure of justice and accountability,” Levy said.

Sadeghi was ordered into federal custody pending trial after his arrest, and Abedininajafabadi is awaiting extradition proceedings in Italy for trial in Massachusetts.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said their 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.”

According to the state’s Republican leadership, regardless of whether Sadeghi was here legally or not, the state needs to crackdown on its sanctuary messaging to prevent more criminals from choosing to coming here.

“It’s time for the Healey-Driscoll Administration to stand with the people of Massachusetts and declare that our state will no longer serve as a sanctuary for criminals whether they’re here legally or illegally. For the safety and security of our communities, Massachusetts must send a clear message: there is no sanctuary for international criminals in our Commonwealth,” Carnevale said.

Herald wire service contributed.