Iranian Citizen Reza Dindar Extradited from Panama on Nine-Count Indictment for Export Sanctions Violations
Summary
Reza Dindar, a 44-year-old Iranian citizen, was extradited from Panama to the Western District of Washington on April 20, 2026, to face a nine-count indictment for allegedly violating U.S. export sanctions against Iran. Between 2010 and 2014, Dindar operated New Port Sourcing Solutions in Xi'an, China, allegedly procuring U.S. goods—including military sonar system parts—for companies in Iran while falsely claiming the goods were destined for China. Dindar is charged with conspiracy, export to an embargoed country, smuggling, money laundering totaling $97,600, and filing false export records.
Exporters and their compliance teams should examine whether third-country intermediaries in their supply chains could serve as diversion points for goods ultimately destined for sanctioned jurisdictions. The sonar system parts procurement in this case involved deception about the end-user and final destination—a common evasion technique. Companies with complex international supply chains should implement end-user verification procedures that go beyond the immediate buyer to identify any downstream recipients in sanctioned countries.
What changed
The DOJ announced the extradition and initial court appearance of Iranian citizen Reza Dindar, who was indicted in August 2014 by a grand jury in the Western District of Washington. The nine-count indictment charges Dindar with conspiracy, export to an embargoed country, smuggling, money laundering ($97,600), and false export records related to shipments of military sonar system parts through China to Iran in violation of Executive Orders imposing sanctions on Iran.\n\nCompanies and individuals involved in international trade, particularly those handling U.S.-origin goods or transacting with parties in China or Iran, should review their export control compliance programs. This case demonstrates the government's long reach—Dindar was prosecuted over a decade after the alleged conduct—and the use of international extradition to hold individuals accountable for sanctions evasion schemes involving third-country intermediaries.
Penalties
If convicted, Dindar faces up to 20 years in prison.
Archived snapshot
Apr 20, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Press Release
Iranian citizen extradited from Panama to U.S. on indictment in Seattle
Monday, April 20, 2026
Share For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington Allegedly conspired to violate sanctions against Iran by shipping goods to China and then on to Iran Seattle – A 44-year-old citizen of Iran was extradited to the United States last week and will appear today at 2:00 PM in U.S. District Court in Seattle on a nine-count indictment related to his scheme to violate trade sanctions against Iran, announced First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd. Reza Dindar, aka Renda Dindar was indicted by the grand jury in August 2014. Dindar was arrested in Panama in July 2025 at the request of the United States. The indictment was unsealed with his arrival in the Western District for his initial appearance.
“The members of this conspiracy thought they could evade export restrictions by shipping goods through a third country – in this case China,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd. “But law enforcement uncovered the scheme, and the grand jury returned the indictment leading to the appearance today.”
According to the indictment, the conduct in this case violates sanctions against Iran imposed by the President’s Executive Order in March 1995 and reimposed in 2001. The orders prohibit the unauthorized exportation, re-exportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States of any goods, technology, or services to Iran or the Government of Iran; as well as the exportation or supply of goods, technology, or services to persons in third countries knowing or with reason to know that the goods, technology or services are intended for supply, trans-shipment, or re-exportation to Iran.
According to the indictment, between 2010 and 2014, Dindar managed a business called New Port Sourcing Solutions in Xi’an, China. The company hid the fact that it was procuring items in the U.S. for companies in Iran. It fraudulently claimed the goods were destined for China. The indictment details that in 2011 and 2012, Dindar and his coconspirators used deception to purchase parts for three military sonar systems from a business in the Western District of Washington. Dindar and his coconspirators claimed the systems would be used by a company in China. In fact, the indictment alleges that at all times, the plan was to ship the parts through China to Iran in violation of export controls.
“The Bureau of Industry and Security is committed to enforcing the nation’s export control laws. This indictment and extradition are evidence of that commitment,” said BIS Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement, David Peters.
“This successful extradition marks a significant step towards accountability for members of this conspiracy whose actions posed a threat to our national security,” said HSI Los Angeles Special Agent in Charge Eddy Wang. “HSI special agents, in close partnership with our U.S. and international law enforcement partners, demonstrate that actors who attempt to exploit the U.S. trade system and to provide sensitive technology to foreign threats will face consequences despite their efforts to evade justice abroad.”
Dindar is charged with conspiracy, two counts of export to an embargoed country, two counts of smuggling goods from the United States, two counts of money laundering for the $97,600 the company sent to the U.S. for the purchase, and two counts of filing false export records.
If convicted, Dindar faces up to 20 years in prison.
The charges contained in the indictment are only allegations. A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security - Office of Export Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is being prosecuted by assistant United States Attorney Todd Greenberg. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Panama to secure the arrest and extradition from Panama of Dindar.
dindar_indictment.pdf Contact Press contact for the U.S. Attorney’s Office is Communications Director Emily Langlie at (206) 553-4110 or Emily.Langlie@usdoj.gov.
Updated April 20, 2026 Topics Countering Nation-State Threats Export Control National Security Component USAO - Washington, Western
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