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WASHINGTON — 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 c... >>>