On January 16, federal prosecutors drop the case against Alireza Moazami Goudarzi which sparked debates among Americans. Now, a US federal judge then challenged the government's action on why the charges against an Iranian man was dropped.
According to Reuters, Iranian man Alireza Moazami Goudarzi was accused in 2012 of attempting to buy aircraft parts for Iran which include aircraft engines used for military purposes. The US officials also dropped international arrest orders and any charges against 13 Iranians outside the US. Moreover, the administration offered clemency deals to 7 Iranians in the US. The government charged most of these Iranian men for sanctions violations.
The deal lead to a prisoner exchange in which the Iranian court released 5 Americans. Among the freed prisoners, Iranian-American Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian was included. The released of the Americans corresponded with the lifting of economic sanctions against the nation of Iran in return for restricting Tehran's nuclear project.
Last week, US District Judge Kevin Castel threatened in a court order to reject the government's dismissal of charges against Goudarzi unless the federal prosecutors could elucidate substantial foreign policy interests they had cited as a reason to drop the case. Castel insisted in his order that the US could not accept any request if it is prompted by considerations clearly contrary to the public interest.
Meanwhile, Assistant US Attorney John Cronan advised Judge Castel that charges against Alireza Moazami Goudarzi should be dismissed since it is a part of a 'one-time', unique deal to get US prisoners held in Iran released, as reported by ABC News. Cronan said that the United States government has made it clear to the Iranian government that the US does not expect to reprise these actions. Castel is the only judge who questioned such dismissals.
The Republicans criticized President Barack Obama and his administration for the prisoner exchange deal. The party said that the US offered too much to Iran in return for the release of these Americans.
