Smuggler: Iran Preparing for War with U.S.

(AP)  An Iranian man has pleaded guilty to plotting to ship sensitive military technology to Iran, and told an undercover investigator his country's leaders think war is coming, court papers revealed Wednesday.

The documents show that Amir Ardebili gave a stark explanation for why he was trying to buy so many different weapons parts, including technology that would help protect Iran from missile attacks.

"By his own admission, Ardebili was assisting Iran in preparing for war with the United States," prosecutor David Hall wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

Ardebili "directly threatened the security of the United States," the prosecutor wrote. "He was a prolific acquisitions agent procuring or attempting to procure a wide range of components, for his sole customer, the government of Iran."

The papers also said that during a 2007 meeting with an undercover agent, Ardebili said he wanted so much material in case the U.S. goes to war with Iran, so that "the government (of Iran) could defend... Because they think the war is coming."

The case represents the latest example of what past and present U.S. officials say is an intense and ominous effort by Iran to evade export controls and acquire critical military technology amid a long-running standoff with the West over its nuclear program.

Federal authorities are set to discuss at a Delaware news conference the case against Ardebili, following a lengthy investigation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Court papers say he secretly pleaded guilty May 2008 to a number of charges, including violating the Iranian arms embargo.

Ardebili was arrested in 2007 following a clandestine meeting with an undercover agent in the Caucasus nation of Georgia.

His capture has already been the subject of tense back-and-forth, after the Iranians complained this year of his earlier arrest in the Caucasus nation of Georgia. The Iranians have argued to United Nations officials that Ardebili and a handful of others have been improperly seized through U.S. efforts.

[from_the_north]

This is just another lie - like the one that had Bushie saying Irak had weapons. You can't believe a word these people say.

[worldcitizen1]

With the US in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Persian gulf, threats from Israel, it's little wonder they want nuclear weapons to defend themselves!

[YoureSoWrong10]

It's a wonder the DHS hasn't noticed your help to the Jihadists! meow

[NAILGUNNER52]

O.K. people, anyone remember the hostages Iran held for 444 days ?
Thats reason enough to set them straight and even up the score.We need to let this Arm-in-did-jihad joker know whos he's playing games with.Hit them hard, make it sting and they might think twice before they make more weapons grade materials.I am tired of them giving the world the finger. Its time we man-up and give them a spanking thats long overdue before they do hit the green zone while we sleep.

[worldcitizen1]

Is that as far back as your memory goes? What about the CIA interference in the internal affairs of their government? Remember the Shaw of Iran? Remember the US backing and arming of Iraq during the Iran Iraq war? Probably not. It's this kind of arrogance and ignorance that makes the world a dangerous place. We are surrounding them and somehow they are the threat? Total lack of perspective!

[YoureSoWrong10]

Hey, I remember the Shaw of Iran. How about Shaun of the Dead? These were great flicks. Nothing to do with the real world, which is where most people live.

[bubbadubba]

I have been warning for over year now that Iran wants to attack US solidiers in Iraq with missiles and kill as many as possible and that we will have another Pearl Harbor that makes the original look like a picnic.
You will see I am right.
Our President needs to get ready to use nukes and needs to make sure our military is on high alert from an attack on the "Green Zone" by Iranian missiles and aircraft.

[jt92202]

"His capture has already been the subject of tense back-and-forth, after the Iranians complained this year of his earlier arrest in the Caucasus nation of Georgia. The Iranians have argued to United Nations officials that Ardebili and a handful of others have been improperly seized through U.S. efforts."

I love how they say this when they are holding 3 Americans as spies for crossing the boarder while out on a hike while on vacation. I'm not saying that we don't plant spies in other countries but I really don't think we are dumb enough to plant 3 white 20 somethings in Iran to spy on them. We would at least plant middle eastern looking people and they wouldn't be hiking across the boarder to look at a waterfall!!

[markj2]

Lets hope we can hold off Iran aquiring Nukes until 2012 or later,as this POTUS would let the United States be destroyed before he would order an all attack on Iran. I say lets launch a couple of small tatical nukes at Iran and target their leadership,there known nuke sites and there military sites.We cannot wait for them to aquire Nukes of there own, nobody will be safe. But i'm sure Isreal is already drawing up plans for an attack of there own to destroy as much as they can.

[afrazier1]

Typical right-wing John Wayne approach. Shoot first, ask intelligent questions later. The sad part here is these sort of people don't even hear how they sound. He talks the talk.....is he willing to go to Iran and fight the ground war or do we just bomb them and walk away?

[I_am_me1953]

Mark, do you really listen to and consider what you are babbling about?

Are you ready to don the uniform and fight in Iraq?

Do you really think a preemptive nuke attack is intelligent?

If Israel is already planning an attack then why not wait and let them go first, we have spent enough year already supporting whatever they do, why not wait and see/

Oh, that's right Hannity, O'Rally, Lush have told you what to say.

[50BMS13]

Now we know why Iran wants a nuke or two.....

[ToolMangler1]

This is very old news, Only human Ostriches with their heads buried in the sand believe that Iran is a peacful nation. The only time a Islamic extremist ever tells the truth to a non Muslim is when they say "become Muslim or die!!!"

[ToolMangler1]

BTW: Ostriches do not 'hide' by burying their heads, but humans perform the same action by ignoring the obvious.