Federal prosecutors have charged two Iranian men, including a dual Iranian-American citizen, for their involvement in a drone strike that killed three U.S. soldiers and injured dozens of others earlier this year. 

The strike, which occurred on January 28, marked a significant escalation of tensions in the Middle East and underscored concerns over the illegal transfer of sensitive American technology to adversarial nations.

Details of the Arrests and Charges

The two individuals charged are Mohammad Mahdi Sadeghi, a Massachusetts resident and dual citizen of Iran and the United States, and Mohammad Abedini, an Iranian national currently in custody in Italy. Sadeghi was arrested in Natick, Massachusetts, while Abedini was apprehended by Italian authorities, who are now processing his extradition to the United States.

Federal prosecutors allege that Sadeghi and Abedini played key roles in exporting sensitive American navigation technology to Iran, violating U.S. export control laws. Abedini faces additional charges of conspiring to provide material support to Iran. Officials state that this technology was used in the drone responsible for the fatal attack on U.S. forces.

U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy of the District of Massachusetts emphasized the gravity of the situation:

“We often cite hypothetical risks when discussing the dangers of American technology falling into dangerous hands. Unfortunately, in this situation, we are not speculating.”

The FBI traced the drone’s navigation system to an Iranian company operated by Abedini. Authorities say Abedini relied on technology illicitly funneled from the United States with the help of Sadeghi. According to prosecutors, the pair circumvented U.S. laws through a front company in Switzerland to deliver the critical components to Iran.

The Attack and Its Victims

The January 28 drone strike targeted “Tower 22,” a small logistics base in northeast Jordan near the Syrian and Iraqi borders. The attack resulted in the deaths of three Army reservists and injuries to 47 others.

The fallen soldiers, all residents of Georgia, were identified as:

• Sgt. William Jerome Rivers (46), an Army Reserve interior electrician.
• Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders (24), a horizontal construction engineer.
• Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett (23), also a horizontal construction engineer.

All three soldiers were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, based in Fort Moore, Georgia. They were deployed as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S.-led coalition’s mission to combat ISIS in the region.

Iran’s Alleged Role and U.S. Response

U.S. officials have attributed the strike to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iranian-backed militias, including Kataib Hezbollah. The strike, reportedly coordinated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), escalated tensions between Iran and the United States during a volatile period following the October 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict.

Evidence presented by U.S. intelligence suggests that the drone used in the attack was mistaken for an American drone expected to return to the base at the same time. This critical lapse resulted in the drone crashing into the soldiers’ living quarters.

In response, the U.S. military launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian-linked targets in Iraq and Syria. These strikes targeted IRGC Quds Force assets, intelligence centers, and facilities storing unmanned aerial vehicles, rockets, and missile systems.

Escalating Risks for U.S. Forces

The January drone strike marked the deadliest attack on U.S. forces in the region since the escalation of violence last year. It also highlights the growing risks posed by Iran-backed militias, which continue to exploit technology to threaten American military personnel.

At the time, the Biden administration linked the attack to backlash over U.S. support for Israel during its conflict with Hamas. This broader geopolitical tension continues to shape U.S. military operations and foreign policy in the region.