Transcript
16.30 GMT-12:30 PM/EST
A federal jury convicted Iranian-American engineer Mohammad Reza Alavi of illegally accessing and transferring to Tehran software belonging to one of the largest nuclear plants in the U.S. (GFX: Palo Verde supplies electricity to about 4 million customers in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and California.)
Fifty-year-old Alavi worked at the Palo Verde Nuclear plant near Phoenix, Arizona, for 17 years. He quit and moved with his wife back to Iran Two years ago.
According to the Arizona Republic, Alavi brought a laptop containing a copy of the nuclear-plant’s software in order to secure a job in Iran’s nuclear-power industry in Iran.
The paper reported that the plant’s operator used the software to provide employees with emergency scenarios and instruct them to react with proper procedures. The company encourages employees to download that software onto their personal laptops. Officials say the software does not pose any security risks.
Alavi was arrested last year after he and his wife visited the U.S. for the birth of their son. His lawyer says Alavi was unaware of the rules of the U.S. trade embargo with Iran. Reactions on the streets of Washington:
Ambareen: “I guess, given his background that he’s Iranian and taking it back to Iran, sends off alarms to the authorities here that are trying to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons, and he’s taking something that was created in America. I am not sure what intentions he had but obviously this case is sending off a bigger message: to be careful for any individual that may come from that country.”
Besides Alavi, a German of Iranian origin was charged with attempting to export prohibited equipment to Iran. Mohsen V. attempted to export high-speed photographic cameras and American-made nuclear research equipment.
Alavi’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 29. He could face a maximum of 15 years if proven guilty.
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