Two Iranian sisters and a third individual have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of stealing sensitive trade secrets from major American technology companies and allegedly funneling the information to Iran. Samaneh Ghandali, Soroor Ghandali and Mohammadjavad Khosravi, all residents of San Jose, were arrested in mid February and charged with conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, theft and attempted theft of trade secrets, and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors say the group exploited trusted positions within leading technology firms to access highly confidential data.

Authorities allege the defendants took hundreds of files related to processor security, cryptography and advanced mobile chip technology, transferring them through private channels, personal devices and unauthorized storage locations, including destinations overseas. Investigators claim the trio attempted to conceal their actions by deleting evidence, making false statements and even photographing computer screens to avoid detection by internal security systems. All three have pleaded not guilty and face significant prison sentences if convicted.

Officials say the case highlights growing concerns about insider threats within critical industries, particularly amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. Security experts warn that foreign governments have increasingly relied on individuals with legitimate access to sensitive systems to obtain restricted technology, underscoring the national security risks posed by covert operations inside major corporations.