The United States has charged two foreign nationals with supplying microelectronics to Iran for use in the drone program run by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. The two men, Hossein Hatefi Ardakani of Iran and Gary Lam of China, are accused in an indictment unsealed on December 19 with conspiring to illegally export U.S.-made dual-use microelectronics to Iran. The indictment says Ardakani and his co-conspirators used foreign companies to evade U.S. export controls on the equipment. The U.S. Treasury Department also designated Ardakani and other people and entities involved in the procurement network for sanctions. Lam was previously designated.
U.S. Charges Foreign Nationals With Exporting Drone Components To Iran
Iranian military chief Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi (right) and Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani (second right) take part in the unveiling ceremony of 200 drones at an undisclosed location in Iran in April.