Iranian National Mohammad Abedini Arrested in Italy, U.S. Indicts Mehdi Mohammadi for Links to January Drone Attack Killing Three Servicemembers

Dec 21, 2024, 12:26 PM

An Iranian man and a dual U.S./Iranian citizen have been indicted for providing material support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization, which resulted in death, and for attempting to procure sensitive U.S. technology, according to a joint investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Concurrently, Iranian national Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, 38, was arrested at Milan's airport while attempting to travel to Switzerland. He is accused of transferring sensitive technologies to Iran. In response to these arrests, Iran's Foreign Ministry has initiated efforts through its consulate in Italy to secure Abedini's release. Additionally, Iranian officials have summoned the Italian chargé d'affaires and the Swiss ambassador in Tehran to protest the detentions. Reports indicate that Abedini and another Iranian, Mehdi Mohammadi, are linked to a drone attack on a U.S. base in Jordan that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. servicemembers in January. Tehran has condemned the U.S. arrests as a violation of international law.