3 men charged with scheming to illegally export technology to Iran

3 charged in scheme to illegally export technology

LOS ANGELES — Authorities say a Southern California man has been charged along with two Iranians in a conspiracy to illegally export technology to Iran.

The FBI says in a statement that 56-year-old Jirair Avanessian of Glendale was arrested Monday at his home.

He was indicted in December along with Farhoud Masoumian and Amirhossein Sairafi on multiple charges including smuggling, money laundering and violating trade sanctions imposed on Iran. Sairafi was arrested this week in Germany. An arrest warrant has been issued for Masoumian.

The three are accused of conspiring for at least two years to export vacuum pumps and other equipment made by Avanessian’s company to Iran.