The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment against U.S.-Iranian citizen Jeffrey Chance Nader (68) for crimes related to illegal exports of aircraft components from the United States to Iran, in violation of economic sanctions. Nader was arrested in California.
The Department of Justice believes that Chance Nader conspired with others to purchase and export four types of aircraft parts from the U.S., including components for the F-4 fighter jets operated by Iran’s armed forces.
The Iranian Air Force was the largest foreign operator of the F-4 Phantom until the 1979 revolution. A total of 32 F-4Fs were delivered to the Iranian Air Force. The F-4F was produced from 1958 to 1981. 5,195 aircraft were built in total. It is the most massive supersonic aircraft in the United States and the world’s first fighter carrying medium-range air-to-air missiles.
“Nader, acting on purchase orders he received from customers in Iran, coordinated the purchase of relevant aircraft components with business associates in Iran. Nader and his associates would reach out to US-based suppliers for such components. Nader falsely identified himself and Pro Aero Capital as the end users of the items to the US suppliers,” – stated the Department of Justice.
