A former Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contractor has been indicted over claims that he used his position to spy for Iran, the Department of Justice said.

Abouzar Rahmati — a 42-year-old naturalized US citizen born in Iran — is accused of conspiring with Iranian government officials and intelligence operatives to carry out espionage activities from at least December 2017 to June 2024, the indictment says.

Before working for the FAA, Rahmati was a First Lieutenant in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from around June 2009 until roughly May 2010, according to the indictment.