Two Iranian-Americans arrested for spying for Iran on Jewish and Israeli facilities in U.S.

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Two Iranian-Americans have been charged by the Trump administration with spying on Jewish and Israeli-associated facilities in California on behalf of the hardline Iranian regime, the Department of Justice announced late Monday.

The charges, first made public on Monday, are among the first by the Trump administration charging Iranian spies of running operations on the Jewish and American communities on American soil.

“The National Security Division is committed to protecting the United States from individuals within our country who unlawfully act on behalf of hostile foreign nations,” Assistant Attorney General John Demers said in a statement.

The two Iranian individuals—identified as Ahmadreza Mohammadi-Doostdar, a dual U.S.-Iranian citizen, and Majid Ghorbani, an Iranian citizen and resident of California—”with allegedly acting on behalf of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran by conducting covert surveillance of Israeli and Jewish facilities in the United States, and collecting identifying information about American citizens and U.S. nationals who are members of the group Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK),” an Iranian opposition group that promotes regime change in the Islamic Republic.

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“Doostdar and Ghorbani are alleged to have acted on behalf of Iran, including by conducting surveillance of political opponents and engaging in other activities that could put Americans at risk,” Demers said. “With their arrest and these charges, we are seeking to hold the defendants accountable.”

U.S. officials working on the case said the Trump administration will not permit Iranian regime-backed agents to operate with impunity on American soil.

“This indictment demonstrates the commitment of the Department of Justice to hold accountable agents of foreign governments who act illegally within the United States, especially where those agents are conducting surveillance of individuals and Constitutionally-protected activities in this country,” Jessie K. Liu, United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, said in a statement.

The Iranian individuals are charged with “knowingly acting as agents of the government of Iran without prior notification to the Attorney General, providing services to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions, and conspiracy,” according to the Justice Department. “Both defendants were arrested on Aug. 9, pursuant to criminal complaints issued by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.”

“In or about July 2017, Doostdar traveled to the United States from Iran in order to collect intelligence information about entities and individuals considered by the government of Iran to be enemies of that regime, including Israeli and Jewish interests, and individuals associated with the MEK, a group that advocates the overthrow of the current Iranian government,” according to the indictment.

“On or about July 21, 2017, Doostdar is alleged to have conducted surveillance of the Rohr Chabad House, a Jewish institution located in Chicago, including photographing the security features surrounding the facility,” the Justice Department noted.

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Phil McDonald
Phil McDonald
5 years ago

Obama accomplices get arrested. Nice.

felix1999
felix1999
5 years ago
Reply to  Phil McDonald

We shall see what becomes of this…
Of late my confidence in our justice system is waning.

WM1
WM1
5 years ago
Reply to  felix1999

Mine died decades ago. It died with the Clintons getting away with a legion of illegal acts and perpetual corruption. Then, of course, came Obama and his minions.

As I stated many times before: This nation is governed by legalized lawlessness. And has been for decades.

R. Arandas
R. Arandas
5 years ago

Good, spies of any kind (Chinese, Russia, Iranian, Saudi, whatever), should not be tolerated.

Suresh
Suresh
5 years ago
Reply to  R. Arandas

Agree. Dems were paid by Iranian lobbyists to support Nuke deal http://tinyurl.com/mcake4d

And their holdovers still support it.

Underzog
Underzog
5 years ago

Obama probably turned a blind eye to this. The Chabads are nice people who teach Jews tefillin and other things.

IzlamDownpressesHumanity
IzlamDownpressesHumanity
5 years ago
Reply to  Underzog

In Mumbai a Chabad house was a target picked out in advance by the Paki bastards. Only the little boy escaped w/his life.

Dennis
Dennis
5 years ago

No real surprises here. The whole issue comes down to a belief system (Islam) which is tainted to begin with, and seeks to propagate itself everywhere. My personal conclusion is that this belief system represents a clear and present danger to all of us non-Muslims in this world. This conduct is just one instance of the vile and intolerable conduct of the leadership of the Islamic world. These people are born into and constantly reminded to hate all Jews and non-believers of Islam. They are a danger to us and all those right thinking people who recognize that reality. We must continue to protect ourselves from these “animals.” Do not vote in favor of any of these believers, and right now, that includes most of what the Democratic Party stands for. Please remember not to vote for the fools out there that want open borders, oppose ICE, seek socialism over the duty to work to provide for oneself, support the concept of VIOLENT protest and harassment against all others of differing opinions, which, to me, represents many of those Democrats running for elected office. Foremost is the requirement to get out there to vote for those who recognize what we are fighting against and what we are fighting for.

GRA
GRA
5 years ago

GOOD JOB !!! Now turn them over to the Massad for execution if we wont executed them here.

felix1999
felix1999
5 years ago

I wish we would END dual citizenship.
I see no reason for allowing it.
At least this is good news…

Stephen Honig
Stephen Honig
5 years ago

Use these spies for human trade, like the minster they have in prison.

satcatchet
satcatchet
5 years ago

Hang’em High Clint Eastwood!

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