US arrests Iranian over alleged sanctions violations for tech exports
Bahram Mohammad Ostovari, 66, of Santa Monica and Tehran, was arrested Thursday afternoon upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport on charges of unlawfully exporting railway signaling and telecommunications equipment to Iran.
According to the indictment, Ostovari is the founder and CEO of a Tehran-based engineering company that supplied signaling and communications systems to the Iranian government, including on projects for the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways.
'From at least May 2018 to July 2025, Ostovari and his co-conspirators obtained and shipped sophisticated computer processors, railway signaling equipment, and other electronics and electronic components to Company A in Iran,' said Friday's announcement from the Department of Justice.
The indictment alleges Ostovari continued the illegal exports even after becoming a US lawful permanent resident in May 2020, and that he was aware of Washington's sanctions against Tehran.
'Ostovari knew of the US sanctions against Iran, mentioning them in emails to co-conspirators and directing one co-conspirator to provide false information to a federal export control officer regarding the end use of US-origin goods they had shipped to Company A in Iran,' the announcement said.
If convicted, Ostovari -- who is charged under four counts of violating sanctions -- faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count.
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