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DOJ to Seize $584,000 USDT From Iran-Based Drone Tech Provider
Key Takeaways
- Federal officials in Massachusetts are seeking to seize $584,000 in Tether from an Iranian man linked to military drone tech;
- Mohammad Abedini is accused of exporting US tech and aiding groups labeled as terrorist organizations;
- The DOJ claimed that the crypto funds were used in illegal trade and aims to take control of the assets through court.
Federal officials in Massachusetts have started a legal process to seize roughly $584,741 in Tether
The man is accused of helping Iran’s military with technology support. According to a submitted filing, the funds were kept in a private crypto wallet that is not managed by any financial service or exchange.
The individual named in the case is Mohammad Abedini. He is known for founding a company in Iran called San’at Danesh Rahpooyan Aflak Co. (SDRA). This company is said to have supplied navigation equipment to a drone maker in Iran.
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US prosecutors accused Abedini of trying to acquire restricted American-made technology and sharing it with groups classified as foreign terrorist organizations.
The Department of Justice said he was arrested in Italy in late 2024 but was freed the next month.
An independent group called Iran Watch has also released reports about Abedini. They claimed that from 2016 to 2024, he and a partner moved small electronic parts, originally made in the United States, into Iran. The process allegedly involved shipping the items through Switzerland.
The current legal case does not focus on sending Abedini to prison but instead aims to take control of the crypto assets linked to him. The Justice Department noted that the funds are connected to illegal trade activity.
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