A former Federal Aviation Administration contractor was indicted Friday for acting as an illegal agent for the Iranian government, the Department of Justice said. According to a DOJ release, from at least December 2017 through June 2024, 42-year-old Abouzar Rahmati allegedly met with Iranian government officials and acted on their behalf. Rahmati, a naturalized U.S. citizen and resident of Great Falls, Virginia, previously was an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 1st Lt.
He also gave the Government of Iran additional information relating to solar energy, solar panels, the FAA, U.S. airports, and U.S. air traffic control. 'As alleged, the defendant conspired with Iranian officials and intelligence operatives, even lying to obtain employment as a U.S. government contractor only to then share sensitive government materials with Iran,' Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division said.