United States authorities have arrested a dual American-Iranian citizen accused of illegally exporting sensitive technology to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions laws.
The suspect, 63-year-old Jamshid Ghomi, was taken into custody on Wednesday during a law enforcement operation at his residence in Newport Coast, California.
According to federal prosecutors, Ghomi allegedly orchestrated a long-running scheme that began in 2011, supplying Iran with advanced American-made networking, encryption and cybersecurity equipment. Investigators claim the products eventually reached various Iranian organisations, including entities linked to the country’s military and nuclear sectors.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Ghomi is facing charges of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. If convicted, he could receive a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
Ghomi appeared before a federal court on Wednesday but did not enter a plea. His arraignment has been scheduled for July 13.
Federal authorities allege that Ghomi used his position as owner and chief executive officer of Tehran-based technology company Faraz Pardaz Rayaneh Co. Ltd. (FPR) to acquire restricted American technology and route it through the United Arab Emirates before it was ultimately delivered to Iran.
Prosecutors claim that between 2014 and 2018 alone, more than 250 metric tonnes of networking equipment were shipped through the scheme. They further allege that the business generated over $10 million annually while serving hundreds of Iranian companies and government institutions.
Officials said some of the firm’s customers included organisations connected to Iran’s defence and nuclear infrastructure.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli accused Ghomi of deliberately helping sanctioned Iranian entities obtain American technology.
“Ghomi is accused of aiding our declared enemies by selling US-origin computer networking parts to Iran and earning millions of dollars in violation of US sanction laws,” Essayli said.
He added, “Our nation’s laws prohibiting doing business with one of the world’s largest state sponsors of terrorism must be enforced and obeyed. We will hold him accountable by seeking an appropriate prison sentence and by seizing his assets, including his $35 million Newport Beach mansion.”
Authorities also accused Ghomi of laundering proceeds from the alleged operation through financial channels in the British Virgin Islands, Hong Kong, Turkey and the UAE before transferring funds to the United States.
Investigators claim that from 2011 to 2024, he moved more than $15 million into the U.S. while falsely reporting the funds as foreign inheritance to tax authorities.
Part of the money was allegedly used to develop his luxury property in Orange County. Officials said Ghomi purchased the property in 2010 for nearly $4.5 million and later spent about $10.5 million constructing a mansion on the site.
The arrest comes amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran. The administration of Donald Trump continues to accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons through its atomic programme, an allegation Tehran has repeatedly denied.
Despite the strained relationship, Trump recently said discussions between the United States and Iran remain active and are continuing.
