Published Jun 9, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT
A 44-year-old pleaded guilty on counts including violating sanctions, following other Iran-related crimes announced by authorities.
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Published Jun 9, 2026, 5:00 AM EDT
An Iranian man has pleaded guilty to multiple federal felony counts stemming from what federal prosecutors described as a scheme to violate trade sanctions in place by the United States against his home country. China played a big role in the investigation. The legal case against the 44-year-old Iranian national, Reza Dindar, goes back more than 10 years, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). He was originally indicted by a grand jury in August 2014. It wasn't until July 2025 when Dindar was arrested in Panama at the United States' request, leading to extradition in April 2026. All of that led to him pleading guilty June 5 to two counts of export to an embargoed country and two counts of smuggling goods from the United States. U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez scheduled sentencing for Aug. 28, 2026. Dindar faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine for being exported to an embargoed country, while charges for smuggling goods from the U.S are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The case was prosecuted by assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg, while the DOJ's Office of International Affairs worked with Panama's government to secure the arrest and extradition. "Significant assistance" was also provided by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). U.S. agencies involved in the investigation include the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security - Office of Export Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
