Ex-FAA Contractor Pleads Guilty to Spying for Iran
A former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contractor, Abouzar Rahmati, 42, has pleaded guilty to working as an agent of the Iranian government and intelligence services for more than six years. Rahmati, who previously served in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a First Lieutenant, admitted to conspiring to act and acting as an agent of the Iranian government in the United States without prior notification to the US Attorney General.
Rahmati's guilty plea comes after a lengthy investigation into his activities. According to documents presented to the Federal court, Rahmati worked with Iranian intelligence and government officials from December 2017 through June 2024, using his job at the FAA to obtain sensitive information on America's aviation and solar energy sectors.
Over the course of his employment, Rahmati downloaded at least 175 gigabytes of files, including documents on the National Aerospace System (NAS) and radio frequency data. He brought these stolen data to Iran in April 2022.
Rahmati faces up to 10 years in prison for acting as an agent of a foreign government, and up to five years in prison for conspiracy. His guilty plea marks another significant blow to the Iranian government's efforts to infiltrate US institutions and gather intelligence on American interests.
This case is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a larger pattern of Iranian interference in US affairs. In recent years, several Iranian intelligence operations have been uncovered in the United States, highlighting the need for increased vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
A Pattern of Iranian Interference
Recent years have seen a growing concern about Iranian interference in US affairs. In 2023, then-US special envoy on Iran Rob Malley was placed on leave without pay after his security clearance was suspended amid an investigation into his handling of classified material.
It was later reported that the FBI was looking into Malley's handling of classified material, and that he played a significant role in the Biden administration's efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement. The agreement was withdrawn by then-President Donald Trump in 2018.
In 2024, Semafor reported that several aides to Malley had been ensnared in an Iranian influence campaign starting from the days of the Obama Administration. This campaign aimed to shape US policy on Iran and undermine American interests in the region.
A Growing Threat
The case of Abouzar Rahmati highlights a growing threat posed by Iranian intelligence services to American interests. The Iranian government's efforts to infiltrate US institutions and gather intelligence on American sectors are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
As the United States continues to grapple with the challenges of Iran, it is essential that law enforcement agencies remain vigilant in their efforts to detect and disrupt such operations. Rahmati's guilty plea serves as a reminder that the battle against Iranian espionage is ongoing, and that cooperation between agencies will be crucial in ensuring national security.