The US Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that it has indicted Jeffrey Chance Nader, 68, an American-Iranian citizen, for crimes related to the illegal export of military aircraft components to Iran.
Since 1979, after the Islamic Revolution, Iran has gone from being an ally to an enemy of the United States. However, vast military material is still used by the Iranian armed forces today.
Nader was arrested on August 13 for having attempted to export parts of fighter jets such as the F-4 Phantom to Iran since 2023, according to the indictment.
Follow Air Data News: WhatsApp | Google News | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
His company, Pro Aero Capital, claimed the components were for its own use, but DOJ investigations showed that Nader tried multiple times to export the items to the United Arab Emirates, from where they would be shipped to Iran.
None of the parts ever left the United States, the DOJ said.
“Attacks by Iran and its proxies on U.S. allies in the Middle East and its ongoing supply of drones and other technology from Russia to be used in its illegal war against Ukraine demonstrate why we must do everything we can to stop Iran from acquiring U.S. parts, services, and technology,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves for the District of Columbia.
U.S. fighter jets continue to fly in Iran
Despite having severed ties with the United States 45 years ago, Iran continues to fly several U.S. military aircraft.
The Iranian Air Force (IRIAF) reportedly has around 30 F-5s, 60 F-4s, and 40 F-14 Tomcats, the famous aircraft that operated on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, in active service.
To keep them in flying condition, Iran is said to be producing parts locally in addition to cannibalizing other aircraft.
The illegal trafficking of parts, however, is not surprising since the Iranian government has been able to bring entire aircraft into the country, as occurred with Airbus A340 jets recently that were stored in South Africa.
