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Iranian wanted by U.S. for smuggling nuclear material dies in custody in Philippines


Iranian national Parviz Khaki
Iranian national Parviz Khaki

An Iranian national who was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in the Philippines has died in custody after a cardiac arrest, the Inquirer reports on Iran nuclear news.
According an NBI official, Parviz Khaki, a 47 year old Iranian from Tehran, suffered a heart attack before being taken to a hospital in Manila, where he later died.
Khaki was arrested in the Philippines in 2012 at the request of the United States, where he is wanted for being part of a conspiracy to smuggle material to Iran that was deemed to be capable of being used in the regime’s nuclear program.
The US Department of Justice charged Khaki with six counts of fraud, money laundering, and violating US trade laws regarding the embargo against Iran.
Although Khaki was arrested in the Philippines at the request of the US, his extradition had not yet gone through by the time of his death because the Iranian Embassy filed a petition in the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 21 to oppose the extradition. This led to Khaki staying in the Philippines while the case was reviewed.
NBI foreign liaison chief Daniel Daganzo stated that Khaki’s case would be given to the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice, saying, “We no longer have jurisdiction over his body.” Daganzo did not state if there would be an autopsy on Khaki’s body.
In May 2013, the U.S. Department of State imposed sanctions on Parviz Khaki for providing the Iranian regime goods, technology, and services that increase the Iranian regime’s ability to enrich uranium and/or construct a heavy water moderated research reactor, both of which are activities prohibited by UN Security Council Resolutions.
“Parviz Khaki is an Iranian citizen who has procured and attempted to procure goods for Iran’s nuclear program that can be used to construct, operate, and maintain gas centrifuges to enrich uranium. Since at least 2008, Khaki attempted to procure C-350 maraging steel, 7075-O aluminum alloy rods, Arnokrome III (magnetic tape), mass spectrometers, magnetic gauging and vacuum system equipment, including certain pumps, accessories, valves, and gauges. These items can be used to construct a device capable of producing or utilizing atomic energy materials, such as a gas centrifuge to enrich uranium,” the Department’s statement said.



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